Single mum wanting to get back into work

ikklenik

Hi I need some advice on getting back to work please!

I am a single 23 yr mum of one daughter who is 5 and now full time at school.
I get income support at £87.55 a week an cb at £69 4 weekly. Also get housing and council tax benefits.
I am desperate to go back to work but don't really know how to go about it?!
Obviously I want to be better off working but the jobcentre say I will need to get a job first under 16 hours a week and then they will help me from there.

How do I find out whats available to me and the best way to get back into work.


Hope this makes sense!

Thanks

kelloggs36

If you get a job for under 16 hours per week, you will still be entitled to claim Income Support, but your income would rise by #20 per week and then penny for penny will be knocked off your Income Support.

Otherwise you could get a job for over 16 hours per week, but here lies the problem as your benefits would be severely affected and depending on the income, could be cut altogether. Although your tax credits would rise considereably! You need to find a job first to find out what you would get on that particular income.

ssparry

Do you mind me asking how come you receive that much in Income support? I thought it was just a set rate at around the £58 mark? Anyway! Have you seen the lone parent advisor at the job centre? They sat down with me and got their calculator out and worked out that if I worked 16hrs a week, I would be about £30 a week better off, on a salary of about £5k This includes paying council tax, more rent etc. Child tax credits would pay 80% of dd childcrae, obviously your dd is in school so no worries there. I definitely recommend them, they won't put any pressure on you either, will also help you find a job - receive training etc.

mummymania

Hiya
Im a single mum and returned to work 18 mths ago and am much better off financially. Have a look t https://www.entitledto.co.uk and play around with the figures to get an idea of what you would get in benefits on top of your salary. Your dd is at school but you would get 80% of her school holiday club childcare paid for - the tax credits will pay you over the year. I would recommend working just over 16 hrs as you would get max wtc. I work 18 hrs and get £395 p/m in wtc but I have 3 young girls.

Pm me if you want any help in working out what you might get )
Una

Kimberley

Have you tried getting a job at a school as a dinner lady/cook? that way you wouldn't need child care

I work from 10am - 2pm, so i'm back home by the time schools out. You need to see a new deal advisor, i'm not sure if it's still going but i also got £40 a week for 52 weeks (in work credit) on top of working and child tax credits. I also get to keep my child maintenance. I am better off working. I would ask the headteacher at your childs school if they could give you info on the catering firm who employ their dinner ladies and ask them if there is a school near you that have a vacancy. I know my firm need dinner ladies in my area, so you may be lucky in yours. You then go to your new deal advisor and tell them the wages you would earn and they will do a calculator for you to see if you would be better off.

ikklenik

Thanks for all your advice!

I now have an appointment with the new deal for lone parents. And have played with the entitledto.co.uk its very useful!

Feeling a lot more confident about going back to work.

Kimberley: I had thought about working at the school but theres nothing round here at the moment. I'm ok with childcare as my dads a teacher at daughters school an is more than happy to look after her in all holidays an after school etc....

once again thanks for all your help, advice

Nikki x

Greggie

HI

I have just become 'single' with 3 children under 10.

I work for a company that allows me to work the hours i want, when I want and it apys very nicely....the more effort you put in the more you will get out of it...

The job keeps me active, allows me to still be there for the children and I enjoy it as I get to meet lots of nice people.

I don't want this to sound like im spamming, but if anyone else would like to know more and how much i am earning each month without effecting my benefits then PM me and i can send you some info....

It's your choice if you want to know more, no pressure just here to share my story...

good luck in our survival......but we are women of course we will!!

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

greggie