One income working households (family)

bloolagoon

Pedent wrote: »

Her husband works 40 hours/week.

The childcare element is only paid when the second parent works 16 hours a week.

bloolagoon

Pedent wrote: »

Okay, a few things:

With a second child, your tax credits and child benefit should go up. Other things being equal, you should get £2720/year more in tax credits, and about £700 more in child benefit.

I think you'll be able to get 70% of childcare costs of up to £150/week for each of your children in childcare (so 70% of up to £300/week in total).

When your 2-year-old turns 3, you should get 15 hours' childcare for free.

If you intend to work when your children have all reached school age, which is probably a good idea for all sorts of reasons, then it's worth thinking about how easy it will be to find a new job if you give up the one that you've got at the moment. How difficult it will be will effect what sacrifices it's worth making now to hang on to the job for the future.

They are already claiming for this child as child benefit is £ 33 pw.

Bournecrazy

kelpie35 wrote: »

Is there not a mother and toddler group you could take your child to?

They groups help your child to interact with other children of a similar age and don't cost very much.

sadly it is not within walking distance or on a bus route (no car either as hubby has it for work)

Pedent

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

We need to stop parents from using their children. Giving cash to parents who don't keep their own children is what is really irresponsible, as we need to ensure all the welfare money is actually spent on the children. Some of their welfare money should go directly to the claimants utility providers, some to the schools to hand out to the children (pocket money, school outings, music/sports equipement etc) and the rest given in food (not booze or cigs) vouchers to the parents. The only cash the parents should get, is the money they earn from working.

I agree that there's a real problem here. I think that there's also a problem with voucher systems creating stigma and social exclusion (then again, perhaps that's what you want).

If we gave everyone a tax allowance to buy food vouchers, and also paid some benefits in food vouchers, then everyone would be using them, so both problems would be addressed.

But presumably a benefits recipient who wanted cigarettes but only had food vouchers left could just sell their food vouchers and then go and buy some...

Pedent

bloolagoon wrote: »

The childcare element is only paid when the second parent works 16 hours a week.

Ah yes, you're right.

Bournecrazy

looks like i'll be keeping hold of the job - im not back until october so still have time to think of my options.

agentk

we were in a the same postion years ago . its a slippery slope if you do pack in in you will only be thinking now that its just youre hubby is the only one working . would we get more both not working ie on benifits. kids grow up family members can help find work and juggle hours etc . i was hospitalised with stress being the a male in youre postion looking after baby and two kids jibes from neighbours about trival things like putting out washing one even said we were stupid for getting married ..