Why is it so difficult for a single parent to better themselves with working ?

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I'm a single parent and currently work 16 hours, love my job and there's more hours available so boss has asked if I would like to up my hours.

Been on entitled to and if I go up to say 28 hours my wages will go up by £102 a week but guess what my housing benefit goes down by £99 a week and I will have to pay all Council tax so actually I will be worse off, not to mention time taken away from my children... how can this be?

It's it just better to just do dead on 26 hours? I would love to be able to earn s little more money for my family? But I would actually like a little of it for us

If it makes you feel better I don't think it's just a single parent thing....I think lots of people have times when they get a slightly better job but no extra money (ie because the commute is more expensive or they have to pay for an extra nursery day)....but if you stick it out then hopefully the next jump (promotion etc.) means you have more money in your pocket but no extra work expenses.

It probably does depend on if there are opportnities for progression in your role though.

I'm the same, I'm a single parent, I work full time and I'm only £100 better off a month working nearly 40 hours a week than I would be doing 24. I've asked to reduce my hours but they won't let me. I struggle to juggle full time with being a mum to my kids but I'm stuck really.

You have to think longer term. This job might lead you to the next job that will get you off benefits. And think of when the kids are older and you get no benefits, better to already be in a better job.

I'm a single mum and work 32.5 hours a week I am now worse off than I was working 25 a week but I get school holidays off so save on childcare. I just keep looking ahead that they won't always be little so moneywude things can get better. I'm also taking up any free education they offer me

Only OP knows their circumstances and this suggestion may be impractical but to make it work you need a pay rise. Part of the problem is low hourly rate. If you don't ask you will never get. Say you would love to work 28 hours but have looked at the finances and would need to be on a higher hourly rate to make it work for you. The ball is then in their court.

ruddy The thing is though, it MIGHT lead to a better job. It really might not though, then you've wasted all the time you could have spent with your kids. It's really hard for women to be promoted especially as they're single mums.

Not saying OP shouldn't go for it, but sometimes you do everything right and still get nowhere.

It probably does depend on if there are opportnities for progression in your role though.

I think this is key. I have been really fortunate (as a single parent) in having a career where I always felt confident the 'short' term pain of childcare + commuting costs and loss of benefits would ease eventually. I'm finally in a position where I can shoulder the full cost of housing, bills (incl childcare) and all essentials without any benefits and it's a liberating feeling as any future pay rises or promotions will actually be what they seem.

It is really tough when working doesn't seem to pay off. I always think that even where jobs have limited career progression, it's got to be beneficial to at least be in employment, but with the hours worked vs benefits withdrawal conundrum that doesn't really help. I'm sorry, it really sucks.

Well that's the famous Tory manta "Those in work will always be better off " out of the window, isn't it

I think you’re missing the point of benefits. They’re not an entitlement, and then you can earn money on top! They’re a safety net for people who can’t work.
If you have the chance to work a full time job and earn your own living, then you don’t need benefits. Why do you think the hard pressed taxpayers should continue to support you in those circumstances? It’s irrelevant that you’d be “ no better off”, surely? You’d be financing yourself and paying tax to help others less fortunate who DO still need benefits.
I was a single parent (widowed) for 20 years. I went back to full time work to support my children - it wouldn’t have occurred to me to stay at home on benefit.

It's not about expecting the tax payers to support me. My hourly rate is £8.50 a hour, it's pub/restaurant Work so probably not going to be able to earn to much more, and it's the best job I can get

I would just like to think that if I upped my hours by extra 12 a week (time taken away from my 4 children) that I would at least earn a extra £20 a week that I didn't have before... even a extra £20 would be a extra bonus for my family

@Babdoc morals don't pay the bills unfortunately. I'm a single parent working 20 hours and I'm not going to go full time only to sacrifice more time with DS and lose money which would make life more difficult. I will go back full time when he is at secondary school and look to progress then.

Look at it like this - it’s £102 you don’t need to rely on from housing anymore. So it’s £102 less to worry about when they mess up your payments. 16 hours a week isn’t very much anyway.

16 hours isn't a lot but when your jugging 4 kids, schools, school refusal, EHCP and cahms for asd Assessment singed handed it feels a lot

Could you use some of the extra hours you'd otherwise be working to upskill, so when you do increase your hours you're earning more?

I totally agree with you- it should be attractive for people to earn more regardless of their income bracket.

If your kids are young, I'd take the hit now- you could be working until you're 70, so I wouldn't worry about a few years on 16 hours when it doesn't make sense to work more.

When you move over to universal credit you'll be asked to search for more work (and prove you're doing so) until you're earning 35x living wage per week - so you may as well do it now.

While it's available I mean

16 hours isn't a lot but when your jugging 4 kids, schools, school refusal, EHCP and cahms for asd Assessment singed handed it feels a lot

Missed this, if you have a disabled child then you won't be asked to up your hours by UC

Universal credit won't affect me for some time in my area anyone with our 2 children can't go in it apparently

My oldest child with sends is in last year of school so everything for her will be stopping also