Single, work and childcare questions

[tiggercats]

I'm trying to figure out the financial implications of returning to work. As an approximation the childcare costs would be equal to my wages, I know I can and will get some element of childcare costs, rent and council tax paid, but I can't actually work out if I will be better or worse off if I return to work.

I don't think I want to return, but at the moment my hand is being forced to decide as my company need to make a redundancy equivalent to my job, so the only way I can consider what is best is to have all the figures for all of the options.

Does anyone else work and pay childcare where the amounts are roughly the same? Do the benefits add up to making it worthwhile to return?

 

[gemabee]

hey hun u know that u can get childcare vouchers for upto 80% of ur childcare costs?
xx

 

[AbbynChloe]

Hiya - if you go to Jobcenter, they will actually do a better off calculations. Ask to see the lone parent advisor. I start a new job next week, and they worked out i'd be £60 a week better off working. They calculate all the benefits you would be entitled to and how much child care they would pay for.

Really really good service!

good luck xxxxxxxxx

 

[bloodbinds]

You are better off finanically if you are working. The benefits sytem is made so that people will be better off if they go back to work as they want to encourage people to go back to work. So you'll get a bunch of your childcare paid for you x

 

[tiggercats]

The job centre did do a calculation for me. If I returned I would be £50 a week better off but would miss out on 36 hours a week of my baby growing up The calculation doesn't however include the fact that my job is being restructured and will include some evenings and weekends on a non fixed rota basis. I have no-one who could cover these hours so would not be able to do my job so to speak.

Whilst I can see I would at least be a bit better off financially I will never be able to get back those precious hours with my baby. How are you supposed to decide these things???

 

[isil]

9 months is incredibly early to be going back to work full-time. Especially as a single parent If I were you, I'd not go back and go back in another year or so. You don't seem really eager to go back and although you might be poor for a while you'll get the precious time with your LO. I've only just gone back to work (part time) - I hated being on benefits but sometimes you need it x

 

[tiggercats]

I don't want to work while LO is still young, I won't get this opportunity to watch him grow again I'll never trust anyone enough to make the decision to have another child so my little boy will be my only child.

I'm going to start looking for a nanny job where i can take him with me. I used to be a nanny (in the job before my current one), but couldn't find suitable work as there were only part time positions available, now I want part time I bet there are only full time positions available I'm used to being poor now anyway

 

[purpledahlia]

Im working as a nanny and taking Ava that sounds like a good plan for you just now! x