Lone Parent working 16hr wishing to stop work can I claim benefit?

jojo_2012_2

Might be good to put your details, both now and if you didn't work into the Turn2Us calculator.

There's a bit more to it than just income support, you still get CTC, child benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, free school meals etc etc etc. But you might actually find you're entitled to more than you think you are whilst working also.

I currently work in outpatients full time 8-6 Mon Fri
, I'm single now and due my 2nd baby in just over 1 month(:eek:). I'll be going back in the beginning 16-20hrs a week on a term time contract :jI know things like this are hard to come by so I don't want to sound condescending, just want to put it out there from 1 nurse to another. Also community district nursing, theatre nursing, things like this are mainly Mon-Friday.

melly1980

nikinackyloo wrote: »

wow thank you fbaby, if I needed a lecture on how to manage things I would have asked. You dont actually know anything about my circumstances, I asked for advice about IF I would be entitled to benefits that was all.

I actually though Fbaby gave a lot of constructive advice and support. Look again.

FBaby wrote: »

You only work 16 hours and struggle everything? There is then something wrong with your organisation skills. Many single mums manage to care for 2 young children and still work full-time. It is hard, but considering going onto benefits rather than trying to find ways to be more organised is drastic. Yes, people will come and tell you that the government supports you getting benefits because you have young kids, so you will hear what you want to hear, but try to think long term. As time goes by, things will get easier with your children. If you continue to work, you are building your experience and making your CV look more attractive. It might mean that in a few years time, when your youngest is ready for school, you might be earning more and your employer might be more prepared to consider flexible working hours. The alternative of going on benefits might sound great, but in 4 years time, you will have to be looking for work, with a CV with a 4 years gap and not the same level of experience. You will struggle a lot more to get a decent job.

Don't fall for that trap of an easy life on benefits, if you need help, ask for it, both to get a break and learn tricks to make your life as a single working mum easier.

too many people these days make benefits a lifestyle choice, I for one would advocate it going back to safety net only.

kingfisherblue

As you are a qualified paediatrics nurse, don't you have to work X amount of hours per year to keep that status before having to retrain? Would it be worth considering being bank staff at your local hospital? It might not all be paediatrics, but at least you would be keeping up your clinical practice.

nikinackyloo

I merely asked if anyone knew if I would be entitled to claim benefit should I wish to ;)thank you to the person who answered my question and thanks to everyone else for your posts

melly1980

nikinackyloo wrote: »

I merely asked if anyone knew if I would be entitled to claim benefit should I wish to ;)thank you to the person who answered my question and thanks to everyone else for your posts

while that may be true you still ranted at someone who only gave you constructive advice. It may not have answered your post, but there was nothing wrong with what was said.

t0rt0ise

melly1980 wrote: »

while that may be true you still ranted at someone who only gave you constructive advice. It may not have answered your post, but there was nothing wrong with what was said.

It wasn't at all constructive. It was a rant about how other people live and work and how the OP ought to be the same.

People are all different and have differing priorities. That's all.

zagfles

nikinackyloo wrote: »

Hi all

I currently work 16hours a week, I am a single parent with 2 children ( one aged 15months and the other aged 5) I am struggling to juggle everything and am considering giving up my job - would I be entitled to claim benefit though? Obviously I dont want to give up work and not be entitled to anything but at the moment my nursery fee's alone are £450 a month and my wages are not even that much , I do get both child and working tax credits at the moment, and am presuming if I gave up work I would still get child tax credits but would also be entitled to income support or JSA ???? do I just resign and contact the jobcentre? thanks in advance for any responses niki

You'll get income support of about £67 a week.

As you're getting WTC now, that means you're getting max CTC. The WTC will stop and the CTC will stay the same.

If you're renting you'll be entitled to housing benefit or local housing allowance, if you've got a mortgage you'll probably get SMI (mortgage interest support) but you may have to wait 3 months.

You'll get council tax benefit, and free school meals for your 5 year old, and NHS exemption certificate etc.

moneysavermum_2

I think its up to the op what she chooses to do for her family. I personally would not leave a 11year old on their own and by law I doubt you are legally able to. If something went wrong would suspect the parent would be liable.

Whose parenting your kids thats a question evryone should ask. I am a single educated mother and personally I find it a nightmare juggling 3 children and childcare. Why cant she take a few years out maybe doing ou or something and raise her own kids.

Fiver29

nje24 wrote: »

I think its up to the op what she chooses to do for her family. I personally would not leave a 11year old on their own and by law I doubt you are legally able to. If something went wrong would suspect the parent would be liable.

Whose parenting your kids thats a question evryone should ask. I am a single educated mother and personally I find it a nightmare juggling 3 children and childcare. Why cant she take a few years out maybe doing ou or something and raise her own kids.

Sigh, there is no age stated in law for leaving a child.

x_Tamz_x

nikinackyloo wrote: »

Hi all

I currently work 16hours a week, I am a single parent with 2 children ( one aged 15months and the other aged 5) I am struggling to juggle everything and am considering giving up my job - would I be entitled to claim benefit though? Obviously I dont want to give up work and not be entitled to anything but at the moment my nursery fee's alone are £450 a month and my wages are not even that much , I do get both child and working tax credits at the moment, and am presuming if I gave up work I would still get child tax credits but would also be entitled to income support or JSA ???? do I just resign and contact the jobcentre? thanks in advance for any responses niki

im a single mum and it is hard to struggle work and children, i get help with my childcare cost from tax credits maybe they can help you they pay 80% off my childcare hth x