Now?

Oliver14

Juicyloo wrote: »

carers allowance and income support, about 90 quid a week.

To add it wont be £90 a week with the highest level of IS and carers allowance the Carers allowance premium will be reduced off the IS payment so it would work out around the £70 mark.

krisskross

As your marriage is over why would you expect your ex to support you? Seems odd to me especially as you choose not to work and support yourself.

Did you and your solicitor negotiate a divorce package?

[Deleted User]

Sorry, but welcome to the real world.Single, Low Income, No Support and doing it alone. Theres thousand out there and thats life, tough as it may seem, youll get through it. Think positively and be proud of yourself and rely on one one, then you cant get let down.

DX2

Oliver14 wrote: »

To add it wont be £90 a week with the highest level of IS and carers allowance the Carers allowance premium will be reduced off the IS payment so it would work out around the £70 mark.

Eh?
Carers allowance = £55.55
Carers premium = £31.00
Total = £86.55

skintbint_2

you could also claim JSA and carers, same rate as Income Support but at least you will be looking for work while caring for your parents and a step closer to supporting yourself, you can work part time also when claiming carers -as long as you are caring min 35hrs per week and earnings dont exceed around £100 (you would need to check that figure) so claim jsa and carers, look for work 16hrs per week at £6 an hour and that will help you become self sufficient, sorry to say it but you will have to one day and you may as well start now

Macro_3

Have you considered that your entitlement to Income support will be affected by the spousal maintenance? If you get £3300/year in maintenance and carers allowance, you probably wouldn't get IS. Your entitlement to council tax benefit would also be affected. Ditto JSA if you claimed that instead.

skintbint_2

rates are JSA/IS - £67.50 + Carers Premium £31.00 = overall entitlement £98.50 - Carers Allowance £55.55 = JSA of £42.95 - income of maintenance approx £63.00 so no entitlement to IS or JSA as income exceeds overall entitlement by the looks of things but o/p should make their own enquiries into their benefit entitlement as this is just a quick look as their circumstances as posted on here

Bogof_Babe

What level of care do your parents require OP? Do you have to spend all day every day with them, or just things like doing their shopping and housework i.e. a few hours a week?

If it's the former, you definitely need to enlist the help of professionals in the field, as it is far too much to expect a family member to cope with single-handedly.

From personal experience (and I had a sister to help out) caring for two elderly frail parents would have been impossible to do at the same time as holding down a job, even part time. Although it wasn't every day, I still had to be available at the drop of a hat for domestic emergencies, and numerous hospital visits. I don't think an employer would have put up with unscheduled absences on a frequent basis. Besides which, it was the most emotionally draining thing I've ever gone through.

My advice - sort the parents out first, then re-evaluate the other stuff and see exactly where you stand. You'll have a clearer head and the relief will be enormous. Believe me, however much you love your parents, they are probably sucking the life out of you right now.

skintandscared_2

To be fair, I'd imagine there are a lot of stay-at-home-mums who have become used to the hubby bringing home the bacon and their role is to take care of the house/kids (which is a bl00dy hard job!) I honestly think the OP needs to find the confidence to get back out there, now that the reason for being at home all the time is disappearing (i.e. the kids leaving school, growing up..). Just take that first step and do it! Even if just to prove to your ex that you can!