single mum..work!?!.how is it possible??

MzJones

Hi, I'm newly divorced and have been on income support for the last 12 months whilst my divorce went through, now that my youngest child has turned 7 years old I'm being told that I've gotta go onto JSA and return to work...how on earth can I do this with all the teacher training days and school holidays...my oldest is 12, am I supposed to let him stay home alone when it's school holiday time...help...how do others in this situation with no close family to help out cope with this???????

fengirl_2

Thousands of single mums work, I am not sure why you think its impossible. You arrange to take leave during holidays, or you send the children to holiday play schemes, other mothers, their father, and if the worse comes to the worse you take unpaid leave. These years will pass quickly and you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
Please let your children be proud of you by contributing something.

Valli

Moreover if you claim tax credits you can claim some towards child care costs.
I am a single mum, I became a single mum when my two were 10 and 8. Apart from 6 months when I was unemployed (between contracts) I have worked.

Oldernotwiser

Moving from IS to JSA is something you really should have been planning for during the breathing space of the last 12 months.

As has been said, many lone parents work and you need only be working 16 hours to be able to claim tax credits.

MzJones

from what I've found out in my local area you can only get childcare help/after school clubs for kids under 11 years old....so am I right in thinking my oldest child has to fend for themself whilst I'm at work...plus, the norm for annual leave is 21 days..well thats half the summer holidays sorted I supose!! I take my hat off to those that can do it without their kids going ferral, if you havent got family to babysit or a father to do his bit it looks,(from my POV) an impossible situation...and not one chosen either, I'd love to get back into work. I'm glad you, who've replied have got where you are, but I don't think your harsh judgment on my situation is justifide

vpb23

MzJones wrote: »

from what I've found out in my local area you can only get childcare help/after school clubs for kids under 11 years old....so am I right in thinking my oldest child has to fend for themself whilst I'm at work...plus, the norm for annual leave is 21 days..well thats half the summer holidays sorted I supose!! I take my hat off to those that can do it without their kids going ferral, if you havent got family to babysit or a father to do his bit it looks,(from my POV) an impossible situation...and not one chosen either, I'd love to get back into work. I'm glad you, who've replied have got where you are, but I don't think your harsh judgment on my situation is justifide

If you contact your local council, they will be able to give you a list of Childminders, they will be able to cater for both your children and you can get up to 70% of your childcare paid for, depending on your circumstances. I have personally done this.

liney

Some parents work short days and therefore are able to use next to no childcare with older children. Some parents work weekends when the children are with the other parent. Some parents use full time nursery/childminder, whilst others have families close by.

The option of sitting on benefts until the children are 16 is no longer an option, so you will need to find a way around this: what kind of work did you do previously?

DCFC79

OP how about avon work or betterware or even cleaning jobs but they are likely to be in the evnings though. I cant comment how much avon or betterware pay. Try supermarkets to see if they have any jobs for during the daytime and when hes off at the summer arrange a child minder for him

looby75

how about a work from home job, there are quite a few now that all you need is a reliable broadband connection, pc and a land line. Workingmums.co.uk is a good starting place to find flexible and work from home jobs.

I am in a very similar situation to you, I don't live by family and childcare round here is pretty much non existent (very few childminders, no afterschool/holiday clubs and nurserys with long waiting lists) so I know how worrying it is when you are told that you have to claim JSA

As someone has already said if you work 16 hours or more you can claim up to 80% of any childcare costs so maybe you could start looking into childcare options in your area so that when you do have to start signing on you already have an idea of what is available. Good luck.

MzJones

Many thanks for the construtive replies, I will look into the working mums link, thanks for that.

In the past I worked in finance, when my younger kids were toddlers, silly thing I packed in work as it caused marital problems...now single and ex off the scence and no close family to help, so yes, I am daunted and hate the idea of my oldest coming home to an empty house and fending for themself during the many many school holidays...I just can't see how it can be done. It's not an easy escape on benifits either, so don't think I'm trying a lazy route, I have a mortgage which the state will only pay half of plus I'm left with my ex'd debts...so I'm not living the easy life thats for sure, I'd love to work again, get out there and be myself again...I just can't see right now how that is possible

I did try Avon, never ever again

UnderPressure

Hello, firstly welcome to the forums

Secondly ignore snooty people on here there are a lot of judgmental idiots on here that have a perfect life and look down their noses on anyone who claims any sort of benefits, the laughable part about it is most of these types sit at home all day on their !!!!!! whilst their husbands go to work, just ignore them there is plenty here so when you read a post like "ooooohhhhhhh make you children proud and contribute" just move on.......................

For every 1 ridiculous comment you will generally get 2 people manners that are genuine and want to help

OK I completely understand where you are coming from, it can be a nightmare as has been said if you work 16 hours or over you can get working and child tax credit and help of about 80% towards the cost of childcare, so far as hoidays some nurseries for some ridiculous reason I have never understoond why shut in school holidays so as others have said you need to look into clubs and childminders for this. Where is the childrens dad? Can he not help out in the school holidays??

Also you will probably be better of starting part timr 20 hoursish a week will get you your working tax credit which will top your money up to a full time wage, dependant on your circumstances you should also be eligable for some council tax and housing benefit, moving back into work will be a great positive thing for you to do, if you can find a job you like and balance the child care then Im sure you will be a lot happier, as has been suggested try the local supermarkets etc they are used to catering for school hours workers, are you near a town centre?? Try shops and stores there, you could do a lot worst than actually go to the job centre and tell them the issues I am sure they will have heard the same things before so will have the relevant information there to help you sort things out.

If all else fails the Citizens Advice Bureau are fantastic and again will be able to point you in the right direction of child care providers and also help you sort out eberything that you are entitled to.

Chin up dont worry, there are hundreds of people in your place that have all asked the same questions, there is a job somehwere for you and I am sure with a bit of help from the relevant people the child care should be a doddle

As said ignore the snotties on here there seems to be more and more self opinionated people full of complete sh*t joining every week, and as said there are also loads of genuine people that will be more than happy to try and help in any way they can.

Good on you for asking the questions

Best of luck..........................