not returning back to work after maternity leave

SAMMYBOW1010

could anyone help, i am due to have my second child in january and i am thinking of not returning to work until my child is at school i work partime at the moment and my partner full time on a low income.

my mother looked after my first child which help with childcare cost however my mother is getting older and i feel it is unfair to ask her to look after my second child. my wage would bearly cover the childcare cost.

i was wondering if anyone new what benefits i would be able to claim for if i was not to retuirn to work??

Sorry if i have gone on a bit it is my first time posting on here.

dannyneil

As a household your partner would be able to claim working tax credits and depending what his income was perhaps housing/council tax benefit.

You personally would not be able to claim anything, as you are fit for work so it rules you out of ESA and because you are not looking for work this rules you out of JSA.

powerful_Rogue

SAMMYBOW1010 wrote: »

i was wondering if anyone new what benefits i would be able to claim for if i was not to retuirn to work??

Do you honestly believe the tax payer should support you because your cant be bothered to return to work?

Rubyroobs

Could you look for a part time job which fits around your husband's work, assuming he works regular hours? So possibly evenings or weekends. This would avoid high childcare costs and is what lots of families do to get by. Otherwise if you choose not to work your family will get topped up with child tax credits or working tax credit if your househild income is very low.

maggieann2luke

Our daughter is in the same position as the original poster. Her partner works from 10am to 8pm including weekends. I am on esa with chronic spinal problems so I'm not physically able to look after our grandchildren who are under 4. The nearest nursery and any work is 5 miles away, she doesn't drive and the earliest bus from our village is 10.15am returning 3hours later. School bus runs are private contract. Not everyone lives in towns with childcare facilities on their doorstep, some of us live in small villages - where children can play outside.

SAMMYBOW1010

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Do you honestly believe the tax payer should support you because your cant be bothered to return to work?

it is not that i cant be bother returning to work!! if you read my question it is due to childcare costs and would be returning back to work once my child is in school if i did decide not to return!!! i do not have to justify myself to you i was asking a question................ i returned back to work when i had my first child and i do not feel that the tax payer should pay for me as i am a tax payer myself

pmlindyloo

Put your details into the benefit calculator here to get a good idea of what you might be entitled to as a couple:

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

You can put in different scenarios as regards returning to work or not.

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

Remember if you claim child care costs as part of tax credits then you must use a registered child care provider.

powerful_Rogue

SAMMYBOW1010 wrote: »

it is not that i cant be bother returning to work!! if you read my question it is due to childcare costs and would be returning back to work once my child is in school if i did decide not to return!!! i do not have to justify myself to you i was asking a question................ i returned back to work when i had my first child and i do not feel that the tax payer should pay for me as i am a tax payer myself

I haven't asked you to justify yourself. I was simply replying to your thread.

If you don't want to return to work, then make sure you have saved enough money to support that decision. Don't decide not to return and that the state can support you.

pmlindyloo

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

I haven't asked you to justify yourself. I was simply replying to your thread.

If you don't want to return to work, then make sure you have saved enough money to support that decision. Don't decide not to return and that the state can support you.

A timely reminder of what this forum is all about:

This board is here for help and support for those on or looking to claim benefits, not for judgement.

It’s ONLY focus is helping people with their money.

It's here to help people find out what they are entitled to under the current system, and to help them get it.

Benefits provide a lifeline for many, and this site is here to help people with their money, and not to judge. Of course, how to illegally defraud the benefits system shouldn't be discussed here, but ensuring you're getting your entitlement is exactly what it’s about.

We all know the benefits system is a mess – but that’s for the discussion time.

Whatever you're political persuasion, we're all aware the benefits system is a mess. Whether it’s the malpayments of tax credits, benefit fraud, or simply the fact that sometimes it doesn't pay to work - everyone has their grumble.

Yet to discuss the benefits system itself and issues around it, the appropriate place isn't here but the Discussion time Board and even there, please remember courtesy and not to make it personal about anyone. This site's prime purpose it to help people with their money and I (being Martin Lewis) will always act to protect that.

powerful_Rogue

pmlindyloo wrote: »

A timely reminder of what this forum is all about:

It’s ONLY focus is helping people with their money.

Exactly what I have done. If you don't want to work after having a baby, make sure you have saved enough prior to the pregnancy to support yourself.

portly1

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Do you honestly believe the tax payer should support you because your cant be bothered to return to work?

errr whatever happened to the idea that the child - mother bond for the first 4 years of it's life is the most valuable thing any mum can give their little one?

I'm a guy and I don't think it is right that any woman should ever be made to feel that she should have to go back to work until the child is 4.

It's about time we looked at what gives baby (and mum) the best start in life - being dumped in a nursery at 3 months old for 8 hours a day whilst mum goes to work to earn just enough to pay for the nursery fees or maybe a bond that is so special that no one should ever interfere with?