Claiming benefit as husband has left me

NICOLAWB

Advice needed.
My husband has left me. We have 2 children under 5.
I currently work 4 days a week but am now not going to be able to afford the childcare of working.
If I resign at my job. Will I be able to claim benefit? As I am going to have to be home and look after the children if I cant afford to have them in childcare?

pmlindyloo

As you have a child under the age of 5 years and are a single parent then you may be eligible for Income Support. This is a means tested benefit so will depend on savings/capital Child Support is not taken into account. Google for more information about this benefit. Resigning from your job is not a concern for this benefit.

Claiming Income Support would mean (if you are eligible) that you are automatically entitled to Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit (or Support for Mortgage Interest after 13 weeks of being on IS.) You would also be entitled to Child Benefit and Child Tax credits.

As a single parent you need to work at least 16 hours a week to be entitled to Working tax credits as well as Child tax credits and Child Care costs(up to 70%). If you work you may also be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support but this will depend on your earnings. Support for Mortgage Interest would not be available if you were working.

This is just a summary as you do not give details of your finances.

You can put different scenarios into the benefit calculator here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk for a good idea of your entitlements.

Child Support is not taken into account as regarding any of these benefits.

rogerblack

NICOLAWB wrote: »

Advice needed.
My husband has left me. We have 2 children under 5.
I currently work 4 days a week but am now not going to be able to afford the childcare of working.
If I resign at my job. Will I be able to claim benefit? As I am going to have to be home and look after the children if I cant afford to have them in childcare?

You may be entitled to working tax credits - which might enable you to afford childcare.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-pay-childcare.htm

Assuming for the moment you're doing 8 hour days - at minimum wage, you may get really significant help.

BigAunty

Have you negotiated child support with your ex?

DigForVictory

If you want to work, tell your boss. They are probably already aware of roughly what's going on, but if you want to carry on even at only a few hours a week, include them in the conversation early.

If you have a union, have a word with your rep, too.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

try not to have to resign. Your employer has a legal obligation to allow you to ask for family friendly hours. remember, as a lone parent you only have to work 16 a week to qualify for all the tax credits. that's just 2 days work and you'd get 70% of your childcare paid for anyway.


Is that doable? What contribution is your ex making towards the childcare?

jackyann

So sorry to hear this.
I do think your decision depends on a lot of factors, such as:
How stressful is your job, does it involve difficult hours etc?
Are you in a job / career that can be dropped for a year or two, then picked up again?
Who else can help?
What are the childcare / workplace / home logistics?
How do the sums add up? Look carefully at the finances, as suggested, and look medium-to-long term (keeping your job may be very worthwhile in 2-3 years time)

I have known mums in this position who were most sensible to take some time off, sort themselves and the children out, then pick up their career again; and others who were most sensible to keep a job where they were known & liked, had some seniority, respect & flexibility.
I have also known some who used a year or two on benefits to start voluntary work and do training with a view to a future career.

Only you know how it is going to work, both from a logistical, financial & emotional point of view.

What I would do is wait before handing in your notice.
Ask your employer for some flexibility and do the research as suggested. These people are helpful: http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/
and your local Children's Centre may also be helpful, depending on what they offer.
If either of your children is at a neighbourhood nursery or nursery school, there may be a family worker who can help point you at local services.

Just make sure you make your decision with a clear head. Good luck to you all.

tinka81

I'm so sorry, you must be going through a difficult time. My husband left me a few weeks ago and I have a 1 and 2 year old so I can understand how scared and confused you must be feeling.


I was not working and so have claimed for income support, council tax reduction, child tax credits and also was already getting child benefit. I will also be eligible for help with paying the interest on my mortgage after 13 weeks. With my husbands child maintenance I can afford all my bills and mortgage when not working.


I have gone the other way to you and have fortunately just been offered a full time job. I will lose income support, help with mortgage and council tax reduction but I will get child tax credits and working tax credits and retain my child benefit. 70% of my childcare will be covered and the child tax credits helps top that up. I will be a tiny bit better off working.


To work out the best thing to do financially I put together a spreadsheet with all my outgoings and income. I also went on the entitledto website (google it) and put in various different scenarios of working, not working, being part time or full time etc to see what benefits I would be entitled to and this helped my decision. My thoughts were I wanted to be able to be independent and be able to support my children on my own, money will be very tight for the short term until the girls start school but I will be working on my career and this will pay off in the long term. I also need it to keep my mind off things and move on.


Think very carefully about leaving your job, think of the financial implications for you but also emotional. You need to do the right thing for yourself and your children. It is a really hard decision but I wouldn't hand in your notice until you know exactly what you would be entitled to either way.


Take care of yourself x

tinka81

jackyann wrote: »

So sorry to hear this.
I do think your decision depends on a lot of factors, such as:
How stressful is your job, does it involve difficult hours etc?
Are you in a job / career that can be dropped for a year or two, then picked up again?
Who else can help?
What are the childcare / workplace / home logistics?
How do the sums add up? Look carefully at the finances, as suggested, and look medium-to-long term (keeping your job may be very worthwhile in 2-3 years time)

I have known mums in this position who were most sensible to take some time off, sort themselves and the children out, then pick up their career again; and others who were most sensible to keep a job where they were known & liked, had some seniority, respect & flexibility.
I have also known some who used a year or two on benefits to start voluntary work and do training with a view to a future career.

Only you know how it is going to work, both from a logistical, financial & emotional point of view.

What I would do is wait before handing in your notice.
Ask your employer for some flexibility and do the research as suggested. These people are helpful: http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/
and your local Children's Centre may also be helpful, depending on what they offer.
If either of your children is at a neighbourhood nursery or nursery school, there may be a family worker who can help point you at local services.

Just make sure you make your decision with a clear head. Good luck to you all.

This is great advice

Valli

re the council tax - tell them asap if there is only one adult in the house as you are entitled to an immediate 25% reduction as a single adult household.

fed_up_and_stressed

Some great advice here ..nothing to add other than sending supportive hugs x