Thinking of giving up work cos of childcare cost

[Mils2012]

Hello

UK mummy here, this is my first post. I have been pulling my hair out for days with stress/worry so I am looking for other mums/dads that have been in the same situation.

Unfortunately my relationship has come to an end. We have a 20 month old and I am currently 4 months pregnant.

We have got by with both of us working fulltime and paying high costs in childcare.

Going forward I am facing life as a single mum however I now face the cost of childcare (two lots soon!) Along with other monthly bills on my own.

I have a good career but I'm coming to the realisation that I am going to give that up to be a full time mummy as I just wouldn't be able to afford to work with the price of childcare!?

What help can I get benefits wise? I'm scared of actually giving up work to find I'm not actually entitled to anything, yet I just can't afford to work when the new babys here.

Anyone that's been there and can advise?

Thanks

 

[Sparkes]

If you give up work, you won't be entitled to job seekers allowance as you have left a job- ie you haven't been made redundant or fired.

Depending on your salary if you keep your job you could be eligible for working tax credit, child tax credits, housing benefit, council tax benefit and child benefit. Your best bet is to go on the turn2us benefits calculator and it will give you a calculation of what you are entitled too.

Good luck

 

[Mils2012]

Thank you for your response

Do u know if this applys to income support as well?

 

[Sparkes]

Not entirely sure but I heard someone say on a thread a few weeks ago that your not entitled to it until you are 29 weeks pregnant. I personally wouldn't give up work and get on the benefits train, it's impossible to find work at the moment and if you decide you want to go back you may struggle- especially if you quit and don't do anything until your youngest starts school.

 

[blondey]

I don't really know much about benefits as we aren't entitled to any, but just wanted to say sorry you're in this rubbish situation and hope you can come to a solution that works for you, LO and bump.

Might be worth going on one of the online calculators and seeing what you'd be entitled to if you stayed in your job. Hopefully you can get some help with childcare.

xx

 

[Pandora11]

I'm not a mum but i know at my OHs work they have option to buy childcare vouchers, maybe your company might offer them? Some businesses give you the opportunity to buy the vouchers tax free i think so effectively you get 20% more child care hours for your money. Maybe this way it would make a difference?

 

[nugget80]

i would certainly stay in work til you go on maternity as smp would work out more than benefits. you should be able to.claim working and child tax credits and possibly housing and council tax benefit... once on maternity leave you can then work out exactly what is best. if possible i would stay in work. tax credits would bump up your salary and on paper you may not be hugely better off working you would still be working and as your children grow up you would be loads better off as childcare costs drop...

 

[Mils2012]

Thank you for all your replies.

I have done a couple of the online calculators and unfortunately it comes back that I would be roughly £100 better off on benefits then in work?! Not very encouraging and I won't go on the basis of more money for nothing as I love working.

However in my area 1 childs place at childcare is £800 so two children will be more then what I bring home?!

I have looked into the 'busy bee' vouchers and it was just the first £200 tht isn't taxable which is handy but just not beneficial enough.

Ohh I just don't know what's best

 

[nugget80]

i have just been looking ay childcare vouchers and didn't realise that if you sacrifice your salary in exchange for vouchers then it affects your tax credits... you can have as many vouchers as you like but as you say only £200 a month would be tax free rest you would pay tax on. we are looking at doing this and if we sacrifice £680 a month for childcare vouchers then it reduces our income for tax credits by £8000 a year meaning we get more back in tax credits if that makes sense. don't know if that would work for you once new baby arrives...? don't do it before as would affect earnings for smp...

 

[Mils2012]

Ahh really? So they will calculate my earnings on what's left after childcares deducted?

Saying that my earnings after child cares deducted would be £2800 a year!

 

[maisie78]

Do you have the option of going part time? It would cut the costs of childcare but you will get tax credits and might mean you are a little better off working especially if you can use a salary sacrifice scheme to buy childcare vouchers. As a single parent you would only have to work 16 hours per week. The 24 hour per week rule only applies to couples.

 

[suzib76]

Won't their father be able to contribute towards the fees?

It's a bit unfair that he should just walk away imo

 

[Sparkes]

Won't their father be able to contribute towards the fees?

It's a bit unfair that he should just walk away imo

Exactly. Its sounding like you need to contact a lawyer. If your on that lower income, you can get legal aid through CAB.

 

[Mrs Pto be]

Hiya

you can get income support if your a lone parent with a child under 5 years old, they wont take into account why you left your job. x