End of maternity leave...

loobyloo0302

Ok, so due back to work in september. In order to prepare myself in advance I was just looking at the options for my situation and so thought I'd contact my employer for a few facts. I queried the possibilty of me returning but shifting departments. This was understandably a no, and I was told that only my night position would remain open to me. I have 3 children now and their father also works nights, earning more than me. I've discussed with him our options but he's adamant that I wont be able to return to work due to a change in my contract before I went onto maternity leave which meant I wasn't guaranteed hours. I think really, he wants to be open to working the 7 days a week that he's currently doing rather than have to be stuck to set days. I suggested me working during the day and he says we wont be able to afford the childcare. So now I'm left wondering if anyone know what my options are and what I'd be better off doing?

His gross income is around 22k, net income is around 1100 per month I think (pays csa)

bestpud

Are you claiming tax credits?

I think your income may take you over the threshold for help with childcare but it depends what you earned. How old are your children?

You could play around with some figures on https://www.entitledto.com and see how feasible it is for you to work when you factor in childcare.

Can you manage on his income alone? It sounds like your OH thinks you can?

I suppose I'm asking if you want to work for financial or personal reasons iyswim?

TUS

Child Tax Credits and possibly Housing Benefit.

loobyloo0302

Hi, thanks for the responses!

Our kids are nearly 3, nearly 2 and 5 months, I was working 3/4 nights a week (their dad had them on his 2 nights off, my mum or his mum on the others) but this will not be the case if I returned back to work now as mentioned before, my contracts now a 0 hour contract, so I'd only be working when I was given the hours, which is my biggest fear. We private rent at £100 a week, and council tax is roughly £1350 a year (few pence more maybe). All 3 kids are with us.

Bestpud, I don't think we'd survive on his income alone at all, no. I've direct debits coming out of me ears, lol. He seems to think we'll be fine until jan next year as his mums finishing work then, financial reasons out weigh personal reasons, ie, I'm scared to death of getting no hours and no pay and do not know if I can take that chance with kids to feed, clothe and keep warm. My heads swimming. I was thinking that if I finished work, then reapplied for jobs for during the day but then thought well there will be a huge gap of no pay. Even wondered if its possible to apply for jobs whilst on maternity leave. I haven't a clue what to do or what I'd be better off doing.

bestpud

loobyloo0302 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the responses!

Our kids are nearly 3, nearly 2 and 5 months, I was working 3/4 nights a week (their dad had them on his 2 nights off, my mum or his mum on the others) but this will not be the case if I returned back to work now as mentioned before, my contracts now a 0 hour contract, so I'd only be working when I was given the hours, which is my biggest fear. We private rent at £100 a week, and council tax is roughly £1350 a year (few pence more maybe). All 3 kids are with us.

Bestpud, I don't think we'd survive on his income alone at all, no. I've direct debits coming out of me ears, lol. He seems to think we'll be fine until jan next year as his mums finishing work then, financial reasons out weigh personal reasons, ie, I'm scared to death of getting no hours and no pay and do not know if I can take that chance with kids to feed, clothe and keep warm. My heads swimming. I was thinking that if I finished work, then reapplied for jobs for during the day but then thought well there will be a huge gap of no pay. Even wondered if its possible to apply for jobs whilst on maternity leave. I haven't a clue what to do or what I'd be better off doing.

Ok, if you need to earn a wage then it looks as though you need to find alternative employment as your OH won't play ball. Would it just be awkward for him to fit around your hours, or would his employer make life difficult for him?

Go to entitledto and put in your OHs wage plus your rent and council tax details and see if your tax credits will increase if you don't work. I can't do it as LHA depends on your area and the number of bedrooms etc.

After that, put in some fictitious scenarios for yourself and see if you will be able to claim any childcare costs.

You'd need to be doing 16 hours but also bear in mind you don't have to have the childcare during the hours you actually work so, if you can find a night time job that will give you 16 hours, you can arrange for them to be in childcare the next day so you can get some sleep...

Your eldest will be entitled to some free childcare next year so that will ease things. It seems a lot to heap on your mil when she retires! Is she up for that?

The other option is to sit with your OH and write down all your in and out goings and see what you actually have to work with.

If he insists you can manage then tell him he needs to work out a budget with you. He can't have it all ways and needs to put his money where his mouth is imo.

The debt free wannabe board on here will take a look at your SOA and suggest ways you can cut down.

Other boards, such as the oldstyle board, are great for cutting household expenses too.

It's possible you can manage if you work together. The situation will be completely different in a couple of years and you could maybe consider work again then?

You are in the right place for help with whichever option you choose!

MummyToOlivia

Hi, our joint income (when i was working 16 hours and him full time) was about 23k before deductions and we still got 85% of the childcare paid for (think this is themaximum) from child tax credits. You could always try and find a different job with 16 hours during the day and have the children in nursery full time or just for the couple of days you would work? For information my daughter is in nursery full time now (i'm at uni but he still works) and student finance now pay towards the cost (85%). The nursery fees are £610 a month so it ends up with us paying just over £100... however because we get £80 child benefit this leaves us just over £20 to pay in childcare fees. Think what the other people suggested.... finding out exactly what you would be entitled to is the best option. Hope I helped a little bit! - Katie x