Redundancy and Single Parent

Batty_3

If I get made redundant will I get JSA or IB?

I'm a Single Parent and my youngest is 13

I know that come October if your youngest if over 12 they encourage Single Mums to work, I dont have a problem with this.

As it's not yet October and if I'm made redundant this summer does anyone know

a) which Benefit I will get?

b) if there any difference in the amount?

c) Is the only difference that on IB I dont have to turn up to sign on waving job applications?

It's a minefield out there.........I've looked at the DWP site and it seems to suggest that as my youngest is under 16 I dont have to look for work? Does this mean I wont be entitled to re-training or to use the Job Centre?

Batty x

real1314

You'll probably get Income Support (IS), through the jobcentre. They will look at work options for you but you won't need to sign on.

Batty_3

Thanks for that.

That's what I thought. I'm hoping to find work, but may well end up caring for my partner instead

CarolynH

Batty wrote: »

Thanks for that.

That's what I thought. I'm hoping to find work, but may well end up caring for my partner instead

Is your partner resident? Sorry, don't mean to pry but this may have a bearing on whether or not they will class you as a single parent. (Even if your partner is not the biological father).

lil_me

If you claim carers allowance (you can even if you live seperately as long as he receives middle rate DLA care or higher and you provide at least 35 hours care per week) you could claim income support and would receive a 'carers premium' what you get CA would be deducted from your IS but you would get the premium on top. So basically currently £27.15 better off than someone just on IS. You would also be allowed to stay on IS when the rules to get single parents back into work comes in. Your NI contributions will also be met. Child tax credits now pay the child element of IS.

Some more info on CA http://www.carers.org/articles/carers-allowance,95,CA.html

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012529

Just another thing I noticed was how much shortfall you will have in your rent if you claim under the current LHA rules, you'd posted on another thread I was reading, another reason to return to work asap I think if you need to find such a large amount towards your rent aswell. Pulling £200 a month from IS would be a lot.

Batty_3

CarolynH wrote: »

Is your partner resident? Sorry, don't mean to pry but this may have a bearing on whether or not they will class you as a single parent. (Even if your partner is not the biological father).

No he has his own flat as it's kitted out with rails and ramps etc and he has 2 kids that stay every weekend and every holiday. We couldn't possibly afford a place big enough for 6 of us as he has to have his own bedroom, because of his special bed that turns him in the night

Batty_3

lil_me wrote: »

If you claim carers allowance (you can even if you live seperately as long as he receives middle rate DLA care or higher and you provide at least 35 hours care per week) you could claim income support and would receive a 'carers premium' what you get CA would be deducted from your IS but you would get the premium on top. So basically currently £27.15 better off than someone just on IS. You would also be allowed to stay on IS when the rules to get single parents back into work comes in. Your NI contributions will also be met. Child tax credits now pay the child element of IS.

Some more info on CA http://www.carers.org/articles/carers-allowance,95,CA.html

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012529

Just another thing I noticed was how much shortfall you will have in your rent if you claim under the current LHA rules, you'd posted on another thread I was reading, another reason to return to work asap I think if you need to find such a large amount towards your rent aswell. Pulling £200 a month from IS would be a lot.

Yes it would but I only have £30 a month left over every month now with the debts I have. I wouldn't have those debts and I'd get Child Tax Credits, which I only get now to to pay an after school club for my youngest. when I declare my earnings now I wont even get that

Obviously I'd all love to work, but with 450 redundancies and this being the only employer of this type of work in this area, it's going to be a battle to find work. If I'm going to have to give it up eventually as my partner gets worse, I'm looking at my options. I'm thinking if I DON'T get work then at least I'd get some sort of re-training, which I'm willing to do. If you're in work you dont get help with fees, and my employer will only pay for courses that will benefit THEM so they would only sponsor an MSc or a BEng and not something else that would allow me to persue another career.

Oldernotwiser

Batty wrote: »

Obviously I'd all love to work, but with 450 redundancies and this being the only employer of this type of work in this area, it's going to be a battle to find work. If I'm going to have to give it up eventually as my partner gets worse, I'm looking at my options. I'm thinking if I DON'T get work then at least I'd get some sort of re-training, which I'm willing to do. If you're in work you dont get help with fees, and my employer will only pay for courses that will benefit THEM so they would only sponsor an MSc or a BEng and not something else that would allow me to persue another career.

I think that you're being very overoptimistic about the retraining opportunities that would be available through the Jobcentre. Their training schemes are pretty superficial and targeted at the under 25s and the long term unemployed. Is there any point in training for a new career when you plan to be your partner's carer? Some of your ideas seem a bit contradictory but I wish you luck.

Batty_3

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think that you're being very overoptimistic about the retraining opportunities that would be available through the Jobcentre. Their training schemes are pretty superficial and targeted at the under 25s and the long term unemployed. Is there any point in training for a new career when you plan to be your partner's carer? Some of your ideas seem a bit contradictory but I wish you luck.

Thanks, I don't know what I will end up doing for now, I may go back to shop work or cleaning work, I don't need re-training for that