Benefits and working

Logrox

Hi there

I was after a bit of advice.

I currently work 37hrs a week and my other half is a stay at home dad.

My partner is not entitled to claim job seekers as his old employer did not pay his national insurance and has not claimed a penny since looking after our children two years ago.

My partner has just applied and succesfully got a job offer this week (yey). However i was weighing up the pros and cons of us both being fulltime working parents and it really doesn't seem worth our while.

With me and him working full time and putting my children in day care we would be 15.00 a week better off. ok its 15.00 however taking into account two cars to run, two lots of petrol, petrol to the daycare and all the little bits inbetween, is it really worth it for 15.00??

My next dilemma, if i was to 'give up' my job so my other half can go to his new job,. I just dont know what to do, it all so confusing, i was thinking of taking a 'sabbatical' from work for three months to see how things pan out as the job may not be longstanding. I have no family who can help with childcare.

Does anyone know where i stand on this? we just wan tthe best for a children and in this day and age we have no chance.

sorry if ive posted in the wrong area .

Many thanks in advance for your help

DaisyFlower

£15 a week is an extra £60 a month, childcare costs will drop as the children get older so you'll be in an even better position.

You cant claim JSA for looking after your children and the more time you spend out of the job market the harder it will be to get back into it.

DX2

Logrox wrote: »

My next dilemma, if i was to 'give up' my job so my other half can go to his new job, would i be entitled to claim job seekers as i will be caring for my children?.

Okay just so I'm clear on this part. You want to pack your job in to claim job seekers allowance for looking after your children?

Read it back and see if you can spot the tiny problem you have with your dilema

Indie_Kid

How does looking after your children mean you'll be available and looking for work?

GlasweJen

To claim jobseekers allowance you have to be actively looking for work. If you give up a job to claim JSA they can sanction the benefit for up to 26 weeks which means you will have to apply for hardship payments (which are discretionary and worth 70% of JSA). After 6 months you will move onto income based jobseekers which you are unlikely to get if your OH works full time.

Really doesn't sound worth it in the long run. Have you looked at different types of childcare provision? Often child minders work out cheaper and look after less kids than a nursery so care is more personalised.

Logrox

ok i see the mistake i have made, hey i've not done anything yet just weighing up the pros and cons.

I can see job seekers issue obviously i wont be looking for work as im looking after the children. how dim of me to actually put that.

ive done various research and they estimate to 22.00 for part time care. I will look into private nannies as i have yet to do that research.

Many thanks for your input x

zagfles

Logrox wrote: »

ok i see the mistake i have made, hey i've not done anything yet just weighing up the pros and cons.

I can see job seekers issue obviously i wont be looking for work as im looking after the children. how dim of me to actually put that.

ive done various research and they estimate to 22.00 for part time care. I will look into private nannies as i have yet to do that research.

Many thanks for your input x

You might be able to get help with childcare through tax credits or vouchers, see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm