Single mum working 16 hours

Rach102

Im a single mum working 16 hours a week, i have 2 children, one aged 7 and the other 2. I receive working tax credits, child tax credits (£190 p/w) and housing benefits and child benefits (£35 p/W). However, im struggling so much and wander if there is anything else i can get. The nursery that my 2 year old goes to 4 days a week are still asking for £170 per week which i think is ridiculous. PLEASE HELP

RAS

Have you claimed Council tax reduction, Ct benefit and help with housing costs?

MrsManda

Are you not receiving Child Maintanence payments from your children's father?

In terms of housing benefits do you get your rent and council tax paid in full?

Do you get the childcare element of Working Tax Credi
Can you move your child to a different nursery or reduce the hours they are there?

If you put your circumstances into the benefits calculators below they should give you a rough idea of what you are able to claim.

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=action%3Dentitlement%26pageno%3D16

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

It may also be worth filling out a statement of affairs on the debtfreewannabe board to get help with budgetting.

Oldernotwiser

Rach102 wrote: »

Im a single mum working 16 hours a week, i have 2 children, one aged 7 and the other 2. I receive working tax credits, child tax credits (£190 p/w) and housing benefits and child benefits (£35 p/W). However, im struggling so much and wander if there is anything else i can get. The nursery that my 2 year old goes to 4 days a week are still asking for £170 per week which i think is ridiculous. PLEASE HELP

Assuming you're on NMW and get all your rent and council tax paid, you should have £150 pw left after paying for the nursery, even if you receive no maintenance for the children. That's quite a decent income so perhaps you should look at cutting your outgoings if you're struggling.

If you post a SOA, people may be able to help you with this.

[Deleted User]

4 days childcare seems a lot for somebody working 16 hours a week?

nottslass_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

4 days childcare seems a lot for somebody working 16 hours a week?

Perhaps the OP works 4 hours a day with an hours travel each way ?

Depending on what time of day the OP works it could be quite reasonable for the nursery to charge for a full day.

LondonDiva

nottslass wrote: »

Perhaps the OP works 4 hours a day with an hours travel each way ?

Depending on what time of day the OP works it could be quite reasonable for the nursery to charge for a full day.

If the OP is paying for four full days in nursery, I'd suggest a second job to maximise the benefit.

[Deleted User]

nottslass wrote: »

Perhaps the OP works 4 hours a day with an hours travel each way ?

Depending on what time of day the OP works it could be quite reasonable for the nursery to charge for a full day.

Not really worth working then if Nursery fees are amost double the wage???

Suggest renegotiating hours with Employer if this is the case.

OP, I have been a single Mum for 10 Years so I know it's very hard, I'm not being unsympathetic in anyway, just trying to help reduce your outgoings

Oldernotwiser

Deleted_User wrote: »

Not really worth working then if Nursery fees are amost double the wage???

You're forgetting the contribution tax credits makes to nursery fees.