Would i be better off not working?

woozyfloozy

Good evening all!

I know there have been alot of posts about the tax credit falls recently, so im taking a risk posting this.

Im trying to work out which benefits i would be entitled to if i gave up work? My husband works full time and i have worked part time since my kids were born 6 years ago. Based on the tax credits calculator, if i received income support we would have the same cash coming in as we do now. So would i be entitled to income support if i choose to give up work to look after my 5 and 6 year old rather than forking out 338 a month for 12 hours per week child care?

I know its not ALL about the money, thats why i work part time, to get a balance of work life and me time and plenty of time with the kids, but im starting to wonder if its all worth it! I enjoy taking the kids to school the two days a week that i do far more than i enjoy the 70 min trip to work then 70 mins back. I see other mums at the gate every day content to be doing just that and wonder if im doing something wrong?

DeeMarie89

If your husband works full time you won't be entitled to IS.

shop-to-drop

You won't get income support unless you and your husband are splitting up. Does your job pay more than the childcare and other work related costs? Can you or husband buy childcare vouchers to save Tax and Ni on your childcare expenses. If you give more specific details I'm sure you will be helped to see the full picture to help you make a decision whether to continue working or not.

sinizterguy

You wouldn't be choosing to give up work to look after your kids - you would just be giving up work, unless your kids look after themselves now.

welshmoneylover

woozyfloozy wrote: »

Good evening all!

I know there have been alot of posts about the tax credit falls recently, so im taking a risk posting this.

Im trying to work out which benefits i would be entitled to if i gave up work? My husband works full time and i have worked part time since my kids were born 6 years ago. Based on the tax credits calculator, if i received income support we would have the same cash coming in as we do now. So would i be entitled to income support if i choose to give up work to look after my 5 and 6 year old rather than forking out 338 a month for 12 hours per week child care?

I know its not ALL about the money, thats why i work part time, to get a balance of work life and me time and plenty of time with the kids, but im starting to wonder if its all worth it! I enjoy taking the kids to school the two days a week that i do far more than i enjoy the 70 min trip to work then 70 mins back. I see other mums at the gate every day content to be doing just that and wonder if im doing something wrong?

You won't be entitled to IS as your partner is working.

woozyfloozy

shop-to-drop wrote: »

You won't get income support unless you and your husband are splitting up. Does your job pay more than the childcare and other work related costs? Can you or husband buy childcare vouchers to save Tax and Ni on your childcare expenses. If you give more specific details I'm sure you will be helped to see the full picture to help you make a decision whether to continue working or not.

My take home pay is 600 after tax etc, we pay childcare for the 3 days a week i work before at 338 and after school bacause in order to get to work on time i have to set off at 7.15am and school doesnt start til 9. I also dont finish til 4 and 70 mins home means im not there for school finishing either so a childminder takes them and collects them 3 days a week. Our fuel costs per week to do the 65 miles a day i work and all motoring for husband(woud be very hard for me to work out each individually as we only have one car) are 50 a week at the mo. My husbands place of work do not offer vouchers but mine do. I dont really understand them? when i wanted to use them before the gentleman at busy bees childcare told me if i was in receipt of tax credit for childcare i couldnt join the scheme? If nt entitled to IS, what would i be entitled to, if anything? I tae a packed lunch every day i work and i havent bought new clothes for work for years so no other costs to consider i dont think.

mrsspendalot

woozyfloozy wrote: »

If nt entitled to IS, what would i be entitled to, if anything?

There is no benefit you can claim for being a stay at home mum. You would be choosing to give up your job, so you wouldn't get JSA. You aren't single, so you wouldn't get IS.

Your husband would be expected to provide for you through his wages, which may get topped up by tax credits depending on his income. You would get CTC and child benefit.

diolch

woozyfloozy wrote: »

Good evening all!

I know there have been alot of posts about the tax credit falls recently, so im taking a risk posting this.

Im trying to work out which benefits i would be entitled to if i gave up work? My husband works full time and i have worked part time since my kids were born 6 years ago. Based on the tax credits calculator, if i received income support we would have the same cash coming in as we do now. So would i be entitled to income support if i choose to give up work to look after my 5 and 6 year old rather than forking out 338 a month for 12 hours per week child care?

I know its not ALL about the money, thats why i work part time, to get a balance of work life and me time and plenty of time with the kids, but im starting to wonder if its all worth it! I enjoy taking the kids to school the two days a week that i do far more than i enjoy the 70 min trip to work then 70 mins back. I see other mums at the gate every day content to be doing just that and wonder if im doing something wrong?

Your first port of call would be the DWP to find out if you NI contributions for past 3 years would cover a Contribution Based claim.
You won't be able to claim any Means Tested benefits unless your husband is on very very low money.

If you are able to claim on a Contribution Base, then you could claim JSA which lasts for a period of 26 weeks. Your reason for leaving your present job is that it is not child friendly. Get their answer in writing. Its no good leaving and then finding out that you are sanctioned for leaving your job.

You are presumably going to look for work to fit in with your childrens' needs and that it has to be local.

DeeMarie89

They wouldn't pay JSA for leaving a job that's not 'child friendly', as the fact that you have them enrolled in a childcare scheme proves that working and raising your children can both be done. Also, as your partner works, you won't be entitled (before my DS was born, my husband was earning £100 a week, and that was enough to mean my claim was rejected)
And don't expect that much of a rise in TC's, as when my 700 a month salary stopped, my TC's went up by £13 a week.
I think you think you'll be entitled to a lot more than you actually will be.
You can probably expect a £10-15 rise in WTC, and that's about it.

allen35

OP are you claiming child care costs through tax credits?

If your annual income drops by £9,000 plus due to you finishing work and an example of your partner earning £20,000 you could expect tax credits to rise considerably if you disregard any childcare element as it wouldn't be payable if you didnt work.

On last years calculations it would of rised from £12 to £85 per week approximately.

Obviously not knowing partners income and if childcare costs were being declared and claimed, this is a rough estimate

JC9297

As your children are at school you don't really need to be at home to look after them full time but your current job is not worth your while. If you bring home £600 and pay out £338 childcare and £200 fuel you are working for £62 a month! (not taking in to account any tax credits you receive for childcare). Based on the info you have given it doesn't sound as if you'd be much worse off if you gave up work, as others have said you cannot get IS or JSA as your husband is expected to support you.

If I was you I would look for a job nearer to home as travelling so far for a relatively small income is increasing your outgoings too much, if your children could attend after school club for a few hours a week it would be much cheaper.