Single Working Parent Working Hours advice needed Please

tiffybee

Hi, would anyone know the optimum hours I should be working as a single parent to get my tax credits and council tax etc paid. I don't want to be a benefits scrounger but I'm kind of stuck in this position unless I can get a job earning shed loads which I can't.

As is I work 21 hours over 3 days and get council tax and rent paid plus WTC and CTC. I've been offered 35 hours (5 days) at work which would obviously be more money but from what I can gather my WTC and CTC will stay the same. I just won't be entitled to HB and CTB.

So basically I'll be working full time but paying my rent so any extra I earn will just pay my rent. I don't think I'll be better off and I'll see less of my 5 year old as I won't be there to pick him up from school and he'll be in childcare all the school holidays.

I don't want to work full time if it's not of financial benefit to us if it means losing out on time with my young son.

zzzLazyDaisy

I suggest that you go to the turn2us site and play around with the benefits calculator putting in the different figures, and this will give you an idea of what you would be entitled to at the moment. Do also remember that once Universal Benefit is introduced, this may change.

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

tiffybee

Thank you, I have had a play with that and end up being even more confused but may have another look later.

paddedjohn

As of April you will more than likely have to pay some of your council tax yourself

zzzLazyDaisy

tiffybee wrote: »

Thank you, I have had a play with that and end up being even more confused but may have another look later.

In that case go and see the CAB, as they can do a 'better off' calculation for you.

tiffybee

[quote=[Deleted User];59773955]Thats the problem with this country....

Not necessarily the OPs fault but its awful when people can manipulate the system and work less and be better off.

Although, OP I like your thinking about spending time with your son. I'd spend all day with my kids if I could but I've got to go to work to feed them..... In fact, I know a guy who works in Switzerland, comes home sees his kids for 2 days once a month.

And you moan about a few hours every day....[/QUOTE]

I just don't want to put my child in childcare all the school holidays as then he doesn't get a holiday. The guy you know may only see his child for 2 days a month but I expect thay have a mother spending more time with them. I absolutely hate being caught in the benefits trap believe me.

tiffybee

And I think the system is a joke. It should be a case of I am offered more hours at work, I am financially better off but sadly this is not true.

sammyjammy

tiffybee wrote: »

And I think the system is a joke. It should be a case of I am offered more hours at work, I am financially better off but sadly this is not true.

This is one of the anomalies that Universal Credit seeks to resolve.

midnight_express

tiffybee wrote: »

And I think the system is a joke. It should be a case of I am offered more hours at work, I am financially better off but sadly this is not true.

Which is why they should abolish all child related benefits, then those who work more get more. You know it makes sense.

clearingout

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

In that case go and see the CAB, as they can do a 'better off' calculation for you.

the problem with the 'better off' calculation is that it isn't able to take into account the cost of working - at least 30% of childcare, travel costs, work clothing and additional laundering and other bits and pieces that can come along with being at work. In real terms, at minimum wage and a couple of children, lone parents can end up far worse off despite a calculation that shows a healthy 'profit' over and above benefits.

OP - unfortunately, one of the costs of lone parenting is children in childcare for long hours. My children have to do it - and they are there when I drop them off with the children of a couple of other lone parents and we usually pick up at the same time. To add insult to injury, I teach for a living so am sacrificing my own children for the sake of others (or so it seems). Part-time work is often the answer but do look at the Universal Credit rules because things are going to be harder for lone parents.

[Deleted User]

tiffybee wrote: »

I just don't want to put my child in childcare all the school holidays as then he doesn't get a holiday. The guy you know may only see his child for 2 days a month but I expect thay have a mother spending more time with them. I absolutely hate being caught in the benefits trap believe me.

Yeh but what do you think families who have two working parents do?

Its difficult to get time off for holidays - everybody wants them off.