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

FBaby · 19 November 2011 at 11:17PM

Going back to the OP issue, we now know that the issue is childcare. What we don't know is what the OP has done previously to sort this out. Is there anyway her mum could continue to look after the children on the sundays (is it every sundays?) or can't a friend help, or the obvious the dad?, his parents? whilst the OP looks for another job weekly only? OP is trained in an field that is normally in much demand.

Considering going on benefits should be the absolute last resort because once you are in that trap, it is much harder to get out of it then if you can stick to your current job and look for a more appropriate one. I have two friends who used to work, stopped when they had their first child, then when they found themselves single, decided to go on benefits with the intention of going back to work after a couple of years. They got used to it, their confidence about being able to cope with a job went down, and with now their youngest having just start school, are finding it impossible to get a job. One got pregnant again, an accident...., the other is looking for a job but despairing. Her self-esteem is very low and she is persuaded that no one will want to employ her, which of course makes her less employable. It really isn't just a case of taking a break from employment.

ali-t · 19 November 2011 at 11:21PM

FBaby wrote: »

That is totally incorrect. You would only be prosecuted if the child was at particular risk and yet knowing that risk I allowed my child to be left under threat of something happening. Say my DD had an obsession with fire, had previously caused one, then yes, I could be prosecuted. If my DD were to fall down the stairs because she ran too quickly and broke her leg, that wouldn't mean I would end up in jail because I left her on my own. How sad that so many people are thinking that a 12 yo is too young to be left on their own for a couple of hours.... and then we wonder why the new generation is becoming one full of assisted people...

No FBaby, you are incorrect.

If through a parent's negligence a child comes to harm the parent can be charged. If a child is deemed to be at risk of significant harm the parent can be charged and in the example you have given of a child falling down the stairs who had no supervision, there is a chance you could be prosecuted.

If there was a fire in your house and an unsupervised child died in the fire, the parent who left the child in the house would be deemed to be negligent.

I work in the child protection system and have seen many examples of times where parents have been charged as a risk of their children either coming to harm or being at risk of harm.

As a general rule, I don't have a problem with children being left home alone as long as the home environment is adequately risk assessed and the parent has assessed that their child is mature enough to be left.

nikinackyloo · 19 November 2011 at 11:26PM

Lady_gaga wrote: »

your on an open forum and you will get peoples opinions regardless of wether or not you want them

If you have children under 7 then yes you will be able to claim IS, I think all people were trying to say is that you need to think of the long term implications, it might seem like a good idea just now (wrong terminology I know) but living on benefits is hard and sacrafices have to be made, and when your ready to go back to work will you be able to find a job in the field you wish?

another thought is, do you have any debt just now? or tied to any contracts? sky/phone/broadband etc, can you still service those while on income support?

No LadyGaga, I have no debt, no credit arrangements and no contracts that I can not afford to pay.

I am fortunate that I am in a profession that I can always go back to - taking a few years off in Nursing wont mean I wont ever work again, if the time came I could get agency work whenever I wanted but unfortunately there is no continuous shift pattern in nursing which is no good with nursery arrangements whilst my children are so young at the moment.

If either of my parents became terminally ill, I would leave work in a heartbeat to care for them, what I am trying to do is consider ways to alleviate the amount of pressure I put on them relying on them to have my children at the weekend.

Gosh you would think by the way people have reacted that I have never worked a day in my life and never paid my taxes, I am considering taking a couple of years out of employment to look after my children and my parents, not sit on my !!!! for the rest of my life screwing the benefits service!

nikinackyloo · 19 November 2011 at 11:32PM

FBaby wrote: »

oops wasted my time again on someone who isn't interested in advice!

not at all, I usually take advice very well, IF I have asked for it. On this occasion however, all I asked was, if I chose to give up work would I be entitled to claim benefits - that is all

many thanks though for all the time you have spent on this thread

FBaby · 19 November 2011 at 11:33PM

I think we agree. My DD would not be deemed at risk, that's why I am happy with her being on her own. If I did, they I wouldn't leave her.

The exemple of the stairs is silly. A 16 year old would be as likely to have an accident rushing down at the sound of the door bell. Could the parent be prosecuted then? There are some accidents that can happen at 12, 14 or 16. You can't protect your children forever because of a slight chance of something happening. As a parent, you can't prevent all accident, whether with them or not. She could get run over on her way to school, just like she could get knocked by a tile falling off a roof.

FBaby · 19 November 2011 at 11:38PM

OP, sorry but it's not very clear. One minute you are considering giving up your job because of issues with childcare, the next it is because you want to look after your children and parents. You are fuelling this thread too, since you've had your answer from the start.

saidan · 20 November 2011 at 12:40AM

nik

no idea re benefits sorry can't help there.....

As you say "unfortunately there is no continuous shift pattern in nursing" i just thought you (and others reading) might like to know for now or the future, that it is possible to have a continuous shift pattern.

you can apply for a term-time contract, then ask for set shifts. you have to demonstrate the need eg, single mum with infant and lack of childcare.
your application must be answered within 28days by your manager, and you can have HR back you up in it, and you can set the start date up to 6 months in the future (so you can plan childcare etc).

i have such a contract with the NHS so they are still available

hth,
saidan

Valli · 20 November 2011 at 1:04AM

I know it isn't easy juggling work and childcare, but there are some childminders who will do overnights and weekends for shift working parents. I know this because I have a friend who did overnights when she was a childminder; also my daughter's friend's mum and her new hubby use an overnight/weekend childminder for their toddler son, as they are both full time, shiftworking paramedics.