Leaving a job to become a fulltime mum.

lennierb

Hi,

I am a single mum to 2. one is 10 the other 8. I work 2 days a week and 2 Saturdays a month. Its a good but stressful job in retail and generally I do like it....
However last week the youngest was off with an ear infection and I feel as though after 7 years at the company and putting the job first its time to put the children first. I would happily work more hours when they are at senior school but with childcare issues and bedroom tax, I'm wondering if I should leave work and be a full time mum for 2 years till at least one of them is at secondary school.

However, If I just hand in my resignation will I be entitled to any benefits because I left my job? I am completely at a loss as to make the decision. :-(.

Can anyone help with what I would be able to either claim for or be entitled to?

Thanks,
lennie

bloolagoon

You can't leave your job to be a full time mum.

A) they could sanction you
you are expected to look for work anyway at a minimum of 16 hours a week.

B could be any job in an area you don't like or less well paid than now. You would also have to do activities like WP that you may not like.


In short you can't be a full time mum on benefits.

paulineb_2

People who have children under a certain age can claim income support and not JSA. I know numerous people who stay at home with kids and claim income support, you can claim income support if you have other responsibilities which mean you can't jobseek and claim JSA.

Bedroom tax will still be an issue if you are on benefits. Id get advice about what you can claim before you resign.

paulineb_2

Id also have a careful think about giving up a job given the age of your kids, in a couple of years time you'll have to come off income support and look for work.

bloolagoon

paulineb wrote: »

People who have children under a certain age can claim income support and not JSA. I know numerous people who stay at home with kids and claim income support, you can claim income support if you have other responsibilities which mean you can't jobseek and claim JSA.

Bedroom tax will still be an issue if you are on benefits. Id get advice about what you can claim before you resign.

OP says nothing that entitles her to income support.

pmlindyloo

Yes, you would be sanctioned for voluntarily leaving your job so would not be entitled to JSA for a while.

You could claim

Housing Benefit
Council Tax Support
Child Tax Credits
Child Benefit
Child Support

You would need to inform the council and tax credits of your change of circumstances.

You get put your details into the calculator here

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

to find out what you may be entitled to.

An alternative might be to find another job - you only need to do 16 hours to claim working tax credits - or ask if you could possibly change your hours where you are to make them more 'child friendly'.

It is very difficult when children are sick and you work. This isn't only confined to single parents. You need to use your holidays/family/friends for child care at this time. Or swap with someone at work and make up the hours later. (You do need an understanding boss) If there is someone at work who would do some kind of job share that might work too.

I know this was the one major thing my OH argued about when we were both working full time - who would take the time off to look after a sick child.

Some of the major supermarkets are particularly good at arranging child friendly hours - may be worth a try.

You have to have a child under 5 years and be a single parent to claim IS instead of JSA.

bloolagoon

paulineb wrote: »

Id also have a careful think about giving up a job given the age of your kids, in a couple of years time you'll have to come off income support and look for work.

They can't claim now as too old.

Upsidedown_Bear

To claim income support as a single parent your children have to be under 5.
https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

nannytone_2

income support is only available for single parents with a child under 5 or carers ( in receopt of carers a;;pwance)
once a child is 5 a single parent has to claim JSA and actively seek work.
giving up a job will lead to a sanction inless the person has very good reason ( wanting to be a stay at home mum isnt a good enough reason)

lennierb

Well I did think there would be issues with benefits. I would still be actively looking for work because I'm not convinced I'd like being home all day. At the moment my wages and benefits don't cover what needs paying. My children need clothes etc and I pay for child care.


So are my options more hours but ones that don't need childcare but more wages or less hours and some childcare but more benefits??


Do I take the risk of handing in my notice now and hoping that I'll have found another job by the time my month is up?


Thanks for all the reading too.
Leonie

iammumtoone

I would think VERY carefully before leaving your job. I am a single mum on benefits looking for work, it is hard I am now having to apply for full time jobs because I need to work and there are just not the part time jobs available. I would love a job with hours like yours.

I suggest you put all your details into a benefits calculator as they are now and what they would be if you qualified for benefits you should find that you are better off working. I also suggest before you hand in your notice you start to look at what jobs are about that you would like to do, seeing what little is about will probably make you change your mind.