Cant afford to go back to work after having Twins!

emar

Please Help!

Im currently on Maternity Leave and its due to end in May.
I have hunted around for Child Care but so far a Nursury wants
£900 per child.. So that will be £1800 per month for my Twins to
be in Full Time Child Care..
I dont earn nowhere near that much,, and i have only been offered
£300 from the goverment to go towards paying for it.
I have looked into a child minder,, which came to no use as i cant
find a registered one.. and im defo not having an Au Pair in my house
If i cant afford to go back will i be able to get some sort of income support?
Im so worried as we will struggle really bad if i dont get some sort
of help..

lil_me

Most council websites have a list of registered childminders and nurseries.

http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Childcare/index.htm?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Parents

Info on those

Income support would depend on yourself and your partners earnings, savings etc etc.

emar

Yes i have looked on this site and i have not found one..
Not even one that i can afford......
They still want about £300/£400 per week

lil_me

But if the £300 a month would be paid it may be better than not receiving anything from working at all

If you give more details of your situation people would be able to advise better when it comes to possible income support entitlements, for example a single persons current allowance is £59.15 for a lone parent over 18, but would depend entirely on circumstances as to what you may receive.

Also might be worth contacting any local agencies, my friend has twin babies and one other, her childminder is fantastic, even does ironing, housework etc for her, she's so lovely and the children adore her.

skylight

Erm. Tax credits offer a maximum of £300 per week - not per month, towards childcare (registered childcare) (depending on circumstances)

Check out www.entitledto.co.uk

littleredhen

i had to work evenings and weekends so dh did the childcare as i didn't want to pay someone else to look after my kids but not sure if this is helpful and not a criticism of working mums - just a suggestion

emar

When i spoke to the benifits people they said that i would be able to get a maximum of £300 towards help for paying for the child care...
I still would have to find another £200 ....
No where would i find that from?
Plus the money i get from work would have to cover petrol to and from work and the nursery.. so thats an extra £40 per wk,, so all in all
I would need an extra £360...
Child minder wants £300/£400 per week...

My hubby is s/employed.. so no gntee what income he might have..

emar

If i worked wkend and nights.. there would be no one to look after the babies..
My hubby works 7days a week... never a straight time he ever home..
Some nights 7 or could be 4 in afternoon..

Loads of help it seems for people who dont pay taxes or who dont live in the
country,,,
but im stuck...for what im to do.....

lil_me

You would then need to claim working tax credits if he works more than 16 hours per week not income support, as you are probably claiming now based on your maternity allowance and your partners self employed earnings? Your maternity allowance of course wouldn't be on the claim so your tax credits might go up.

You may be able to get an idea of what you can claim either way from https://www.entitledto.co.uk

Info on returning to work, if you change your mind etc

http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/working/pregnant_worker.asp#my_mind

emar

Thank you for you help

Do you know what... its so hard for Mum's for find a suitable person to look
after her kids... I mean we go through 9mths of pregnancy only to have to
pay someone else to bring them up as we have to go back to work..
My babies were 10wks prem,, thought i was going to lose them..
Now having to find a person who have them all day.. well the thought
breaks my heart...
Im quite glad in a way that these nurserys and child minders are greedy
and want to cost a fortune... ..

lil_me

Choosing to stay at home after having children is a difficult decision to make due to financial restrictions aswell as wanting to be there with the children. I found after being a stay at home parent I wanted to return to work for the self worth side of things, my confidence dwindled when I stopped working, constant baby talk was enough to drive me crackers after a while. Just wanted some 'adult conversation'. Don't get me wrong it's rewarding but also there is I think a need in most people to work, earn their own money etc for themselves, it's harder to get back into work after being a SAHM. If you don't want to return to work and can afford not to then of course that is your choice to make, I have no doubt there is more affordable childcare options usually if you look further but if you don't want to return to work then I doubt you will convince yourself into looking. Not mean't in a harsh way of course, it's only natural to want to be with your children and I don't envy you having to make the decision but you have to make the right one for you and your little family. With the childcare allowances available it's usually more affordable to return to work than surviving on one earnings + any tax credits you are entitled to. Good luck.