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Original poster

To go off work sick

33 replies

Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 12:47

I am a single parent to 12 year old twins. I work in a stressful call centre job. I just cannot do it anymore. I have gone off sick today as I’m suffering with chronic sinus post covid (but also work stress - my brain just freezes when I get there lately but I haven’t mentioned that to anyone).
what can I do? If I quit will my UC top up stop? If I’m signed off I only get SSP how would that work with UC? I’ve been job hunting for 6 months now and only had one interview. I have a degree in maths, a bit of accounts experience, but working in a call centre the last year after being made redundant from part time accounts told. I work 9-3, struggle with child sickness, school holidays the twins basically stay home alone on devices with a pile of snacks for 7 hours. I feel sad for them in the holidays. My manager is incompetent. I’m unwell, stressed, I need a way out. Any advice welcome.

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Middlemarch123 · 22/11/2025 18:52

Grit your teeth for a bit longer and give yourself a cut off with the plan to leave your job at Easter. Use the time before then to look at private maths tutoring. Start small and build it up. Find out what exam boards local schools use and download load resources and old papers. Then when you leave work you can focus on tutoring the local GCSE cohort who have their exams next summer. I wouldn’t look into teaching, it honestly takes stress to a different level, ex English teacher here.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/11/2025 18:40

Lovingbooks · 22/11/2025 10:32

If you resign voluntarily from your job you can face a sanction of up to 91 days on UC. If you resign you might solve short term issue in hating your job but be more stressed if you don’t have a job to go into and have limited savings. As a poster said use your work sickness leave. Can’t you try tutoring alongside your paid employment to test waters before making such a drastic move in giving up secure work completely.

Edited

You can’t do tutoring whilst on sick leave though

luckylavender · 22/11/2025 11:32

Overtheatlantic · 21/11/2025 16:00

Don’t quit. Book in some holiday time. Your twins need to help you around the house. 🌷 keep job hunting.

You can’t just book holiday when you feel like it.

bellocchild · 22/11/2025 11:30

I taught English for 12 years, when my two were school age, mostly so I wouldn't have to use child care. (I was brought up by various carers because my mother worked full time, and I didn't want to do it to my children.) Teaching was indeed hard work, but it worked while I needed it to. (I left when they had finished school.) It's a graduate job, in most schools you work as a team, and on the whole it offers a friendly environment with fairly good pay and pension. But it pays to get a good idea of the available schools first, so you know which ones to avoid...ask around?

Lovingbooks · 22/11/2025 10:32

If you resign voluntarily from your job you can face a sanction of up to 91 days on UC. If you resign you might solve short term issue in hating your job but be more stressed if you don’t have a job to go into and have limited savings. As a poster said use your work sickness leave. Can’t you try tutoring alongside your paid employment to test waters before making such a drastic move in giving up secure work completely.

Original poster
Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 20:17

if I left my job to set up as self employed would UC sanction me? I have three months salary saved in the bank (not much £4,500)

im so stressed and confused.

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BringBackTeletext · 21/11/2025 20:04

For UC you need to earn 30xNMW a week.

Lovingbooks · 21/11/2025 20:03

Can you drop any hours with the call centre job and still get UC? I believe there is a minimum income floor before it’s affected not sure what work commitment they expect though with older children.

Lovingbooks · 21/11/2025 19:58

definitely try advertising as a maths tutor. You could do this as a sideline. Maths is really in demand.

IAxolotlQuestions · 21/11/2025 17:39

Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:09

I have actually been looking into teaching this afternoon! But I have heard it’s very stressful. But working in a call centre I am hating it, I had to take the first job available after being made redundant from my account role.

I have also worked in a call centre. I’d rather be a teacher (going to do so once I finish the science degree). Far more fun.

W0tnow · 21/11/2025 17:36

I second tutoring. There are loads of websites you can sign up to, and start immediately. Then when you have a solid client base you can go direct. You can work from home and chose your own hours.

Burningbud1981 · 21/11/2025 17:32

You could be sanctioned by UC for giving up paid work. It’s best to exhaust your company’s sickness first. If you get SSP that will be counted as wages and deductions made. You’ll have more UC as you’ll have less deductions but it won’t match wages lost. If you are not earning more than £952 a month you have regular work search appointments with work coach and made to work search 30 hours

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 21/11/2025 17:27

You have good qualifications so go off sick and take the time to work out what you want to do and train in something new.
teaching or tutoring are good suggestions.
if teaching doesn’t appeal, do tutoring to earn some money to support you while you train for something else.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 21/11/2025 17:19

Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:09

I have actually been looking into teaching this afternoon! But I have heard it’s very stressful. But working in a call centre I am hating it, I had to take the first job available after being made redundant from my account role.

I think you should teach A level maths. At least the young people want to be there.

Zippidydoodah · 21/11/2025 17:17

Teaching is extremely stressful, yes (speaking as an ex-teacher) but, it might light you up in ways that call centre work doesn’t. If you enjoy it, you might feel refreshed. A change is as good as a rest!

I feel for you. Don’t give up on looking for a new job 💐

hopspot · 21/11/2025 17:16

Itsaknockout235 · 21/11/2025 15:56

Oh man, boy if you have a degree in maths is there a secondary school near you in need of a teacher! There are now teaching apprenticeships you know.

This!

TheGander · 21/11/2025 16:40

My son’s maths tutor charged £50 ph in London. She didn’t have a maths degree, was a biological engineering student . ( I don’t regret it one bit, he got grade A in A level).

Original poster
Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:32

I worked through having covid and since then I’m really struggling.

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Original poster
Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:31

I have A Levels in Business Studies, Economics and Maths. Tutoring could be a great idea. I will look it up! I’m so scared of going if sick but I’m just feeling so unwell and can’t seem to get better at the moment. Part of me wonders if it’s stress. I’ve been a single parent since the twins were babies, and a few years ago there father died so literally all the finances depend on me. I would love to one day earn enough not to need UC. I was fresh out of uni when I had the twins so just have part time bookkeeping and payroll experience which I actually like but just can’t find any local or remote roles at the moment. The call centre is slowly killing me!

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BotterMon · 21/11/2025 16:30

Can you afford to live on SSP? If not, then dig in and stick it out until you find something else. As others have said 3 full days a week is easier to find than a 9-3pm role.
If you quit then why would you get benefits? I thought they were only payable when you are unintentionally unemployed.

Mepp · 21/11/2025 16:28

Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:09

I have actually been looking into teaching this afternoon! But I have heard it’s very stressful. But working in a call centre I am hating it, I had to take the first job available after being made redundant from my account role.

If 9-3 in a call centre is stressful and means you can't think straight, I wouldn't consider teaching.

BobbieTables · 21/11/2025 16:25

You should do maths tutoring. There is a lack of qualified people for that. Gen up on the various syllabuses. They charge £20-80 and hour round here (London) with the low end being current a level or degree students.
Deffo get out of the call centre & go sick for a bit while you transition.

Original poster
Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:19

I’ve even thought of signing up for a masters degree and taking out a postgraduate loan, but I think I might lose out on UC then as I’m thinking I would be intentionally making myself unemployed. But just to get away from this awful call centre with the bright lights, noise, stress, backstabbing etc

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Original poster
Tiredsinglemamma · 21/11/2025 16:18

I have bookkeeping and payroll qualifications (and experience) but it just seems so competitive out there at the moment.

the twins argue constantly so am reluctant to leave them too much and I suspect one of them has adhd

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