Based on financial reasons alone, do I work or be a SAHM?

[TreadmillMom]

Okay jury, I need your opinions please.
Would you get out of bed for this?
I currently have 2 DSs oldest at school, youngest private childcare (and I'm 10 weeks pregnant, shh).
I work 3 days a week in a job where the salary was pro rated from full time, so very good actually.
Unfortunately, my current role is being made redundant in 3 weeks and I am utterly disgusted at the part time work market.
I've had a call from an agency this morning with an interview for a local company.
25 hours per week spread across 5 days at £7.17 an hour. With DS1 after school club and DS2 nursery I'll be spending £494 per month on childcare, my salary calculates to £776.75 per month leaving me £282.75 for bills, life etc.
The alternative, in the face of redundancy I can claim off my mortgage insurance which contributes £325 per month, claim Contributions Based Job Seekers Allowance at £200 per month for 6 months, no childcare costs and lots of time with the kids. Later I can claim Maternity Allowance at £112 for 39 weeks.
So jury, based on financial reasons alone, do I work or be a SAHM?
Oh, DH works full time so we could manage on a little less in both scenarios.

[LilRedWG]

If you are happy to be a SAHM and can manage financially, then do it. Personally, I don't think you should claim JSA as you won't be actively seeking work.

[LilRedWG]

Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy

[witchandchips]

The thing you really did to think about is what position you want to be in when your bump goes to school. Keeping working, even if it only just makes sense financially now may give your more opportunties in 5 years time.

[TreadmillMom]

Bump.
Thank you for your opinions, please may I have some more?
I am happy to claim Contributions Based Job Seekers Allowance as the pay out is taken directly from the NI contributions I as an individual have paid into the system. It?s my money and after working continuously for 20 years I think I'm more than entitled to claim benefits if I choose not to work a while.

[Elphaba]

SAHM - no brainer for me. Time with the children is worth more than anything else - that's a personal feeling though.

[witchandchips]

problem is that you are not legally entitled to this money if you are not looking for work. Not a moral issue but a practical one, they simply won't give you the money if you don't show them you are looking for work.

[LilRedWG]

Witchandchips is right - you have no legal entitlement to this money. If you had wanted to save for a rainy day then you should have done so. I'm not meaning to be miserable or holier-than-thou, but there are so many people on here who struggle financially and have to claim benefits and it is not fair on them that people say mean things.

[myalias]

Personally I would take up the job offer see how things go. Once baby is born see if you can reduce your hours and still keep your hand in. Once youngest is at school you can increase your hours.

[TreadmillMom]

witchandchips thank you for responding but you don't seriously think all the millions of people in the UK claiming Job Seekers Allowance are actively looking for employment do you?
I'm allowed to 'cheat' a little aren't I after 20 years of contributions having never made a claim?

[LilRedWG]

I don't think saying, "But other people do it" is a justification. Most of us have paid our taxes on here and I'd rather mine we're used on people who really need it and not just think the system owes them something.

I agree that people do cheat the system out of money, but that does not make it right.

[witchandchips]

well there is looking and looking iyswim, but you will have to meet with the people in the Job centre "plus" office once every two weeks or so
see this
webpage

[LilOrphanAnnie]

Do you want to work, or do you want to stay at home?
The money is so marginal it will come down to choice - imo.

[TreadmillMom]

Thanks for that witchandchips I'll add it to my favourites, I didn?t know I'd have to sign an agreement stating my active search for work.
Okay ladies, I guess I've subconsciously made up my mind I think it crazy that I either have to squeeze my mortgage, council tax, travel expenses, food etc out of £282, when I can stay at home with my children, have my mortgage paid and get £200 from the state.

[TreadmillMom]

Oh and remember as I'm 10 weeks pregnant I only realistically have 5 and half months of paid work left in me.

[colditz]

Um, you have a husband.

Your husband works full time.

'The state' is not going to pay your mortgage for you.

I suggest you don't believe everything The Daily Mail says.

[TreadmillMom]

colditz, I never said the state is going to pay my mortgage, my MORTGAGE INSURANCE will pay my share.
Furthermore, my info doesn't come from The Daily Mail, it comes from my own investigations and calculations.

[LilRedWG]

Colditz - she has redundancy insurance, it's not the State paying. My contention was with claiming JSA when not seeking work. I'm all for the insurance coughing up

[flowerybeanbag]

I would check your mortgage insurance carefully. YOu may well be expected to actively apply for jobs and attend interviews and take jobs if offered.

[flowerybeanbag]

And I'm afraid I agree that I wouldn't claim a benefit just because I thought I technically could and had paid NI if I didn't actively need it.

[LilRedWG]

Hatrick - you have got over the point I was trying to make far more eloquently than I could!

[LilRedWG]

Have a read of this.

You could be facing:

• having to pay all the money back
  
• a taped interview under caution
  
• prosecution
  
• a fine
  
• a criminal record
  
• social stigma

[BrummieOnTheRun]

It can be a condition of mortgage payment protection insurance that you sign on. They police the system for the insurance policies. You may have no choice but to claim your JSA.

[TreadmillMom]

BrummieOnTheRun you are 100% correct, I do have to.
I just realised too that all my calculations are pre tax and NI so my take home would be significantly less than I thought.
Stuff it, I've worked 20 years and the only time I've taken off is maternity, I'm gonna enjoy my pregnancy and my kids too.
Working can wait a while, I'm sure I'll back to it some time after DC3.
I knew I could count on you ladies, whether I've agreed with all of your comments or not, this is a discussion board and this discussion has given me some real food for thought.