Dreading going back to work after baby

[waiting4bambino]

I've got about 5 months left of my maternity leave, and i know that i don't want to go back to my old job! It's quite a stressful job and not as close to home as i'd like it to be. After having my daughter, i'd quite like to have a change of job, even if it means something completely different, working in a local supermarket etc! I currently work for a bank, and the way things are going, its all sales related and poxy targets, which i loathe!
I need to bring home around 550 a month to manage bills etc, although i'm wondering how i would fare with claiming some sort of benefits, or if we would be eligible even... At the moment, i get Child Tax Credit, but we earned too much to get the WTC. I can't believe that our eligibility for tax credits was based on what we earned in 06-07 - that money is long spent!!!!!

Also, if i decided not to go back to work at all, what benefits would we be able to claim? We have just one child, and my husband earns around 19000 a year. Or if i do go back, would i get any wage top ups for working 12 hours, or do i need to work 16 hours? I sometimes find that the websites for the government can never give you a straight answer on what you can claim, and its only if you're in the know, that you get anywhere!!!! I've also been interested in working from home, but looking online, there's a lot of warnings about scams etc, so i think that one is out!

All I want is a nice job, close to home, leave the car in the garage etc, and simplify my life so that i can enjoy more time with my dd and dh, is that too much too ask?

[umberella]

ha! don't we all.

I'm due back in 2 weeks after 9 months of mat leave, dd is 7 months old. Also dreading it.

sorry probably no help as i know nothing about benefits eligibility but will be watching this thread with interest!!!

[waiting4bambino]

Good luck in going back Umberella, i know it isnt easy!!
I've been checking out the jobs on the jobcentre website, plenty of minimum wage jobs out there!!!!! Arrgghh!!!

[WheresTheAuPair]

waiting4bambino- email me at nicola . beattie at ntlworld . com (or CAT me). I have been in a similar position and taken up an interesting work from home business opportunity that may work for you as it has for me. Mail me and i'll send you the details

[Pavlovthecat]

I am sorry you have to go back, I had to as well and it was hard at first but I got used to it, and now I quite appreciate the chance to be me.

I don't think £19000 will entitle you to WTC, I think the cut off for that is around £14000 pa per family. You may get a little more CTC than you do now, but if you do, it probably wont be significant if you dont go back to work

If you back to work, I would think you wont get any more than you are getting now, as your income will be above £20k pa.

[WheresTheAuPair]

ok blonde moment- wrong email address (duh) try beattie . nicola at ntworld . com

[Spaceman]

Why don't you try and get the £600 child minding? It takes a couple of months to become qualified and you'd only need one child to get your target.

[waiting4bambino]

Spaceman, can you tell me more about this?

Wherestheaupair, i will email you later, typing with one hand at mo, baby in the other!!

[Spaceman]

It's just something I was thinking about because like you I needed around £600 a month. You would also not be taxed on it as you'd be earning under the personal allowance threshold.

I'm not sure the best website to go to, another mumsnetter maybe able to help, but I do know you can get registered fairly quickly. You'll need to attend some classes and make some safety changes to your house and then Ofsted come around and inspect it before you get the go-ahead. I think it's all relatively easy to do. Depending on where you live in the UK you can earn about £4 an hour. Just pray for an easy child!