to wonder where job centre expect kids to go?

[flummoxedbanana]

My sisters husband left last year when their son was a newborn. Shes in the final year of her degree and her son was one a few weeks ago. Shes currently on income support and has been accepted on a graduate teacher programme commencing in September. She received a letter from the job centre informing her she must attend a lone parent information session in January which is a group activity and will last at least two hours. The letter states she can receive help with childcare costs but obviously most nurseries won't take children for a few hours as a one off because they recognise, quite rightly, that they're likely to be upset and unsettled. Her son has never been away from her so even if she could find a nursery to take him she'd have to sit listening to pointless information while he's distraught. I live several hours away otherwise I'd help out. AIBU to wonder where the job centre expect kids to go?

Is taking care of a baby sitting on your arse? That's not how I remember it.

Are you a single parent of a child under one, SeaSick?

As "typing and reception work" wouldn't even cover childcare costs, let alone bills.

There by the grace of god go all of us.

I actually hope some people on here who are so anti-benefits find themselves in a position where they have to claim them one day so they get some perspective on life.

WTF?

She's studying, she has a small baby, she's starting a job in September. How does this make her a) lazy or b) entitled?

God forbid us scummy single mothers should get a bit of help to get us into decent jobs when our worlds go tits up, eh? We really should know our place and forget any ideas we might have of anything other than stacking shelves, shouldn't we?

And if she has to claim tax credits i assume there'll be some snarky comments about that!
I also dont like people who sit on benefits and do fuck all except whinge about these work finding course things but the woman in question is STUDYING to better her prospects.
Some of these posts are shocking and ridiculous!!

A job lined up in nine months time still equals asking for a lot of money from other people!

I wouldn't imagine employers would be queuing up to hire someone who already has a job lined up for a few months time. Also, there is little point trying for a temp job because it is too unreliable and she will need to organise childcare and then be out of work again. Have some comoassion, she just needs some help till her job starts.

Lordy.

Are you Katie Hopkins woowoo?

Some of your more valid ideas are totally overshadowed by your DMesque rhetoric.

So studying for a degree is "bumming around"????

Btw I work, full time, supporting my recently unemployed husband as well as my toddler. We may have to claim JSA soon because the cash is running out now and we can't survive on air

Btw, he's had 10 interviews, 2 offers that fell through because the jobs are 'on hold' until new funding comes in.

Seriously woowoo, does it REALLY piss you off that people get a bit of help when they need it?

Which bit of 'she is studying for a degree whilst also being the sole carer of a baby' are you having trouble understanding, woowoo?

Situations like this are exactly what benefits are for, imo. Short term cover to help people sort themselves out and get back on their feet when life throws a curveball. She should be congratulated for her ambition and dedication, not slagged off for 'having her hand out'.

It pisses me off that they money can't be spent on sick or disabled people within the NHS because it's being spent on people that want to wait around for their dream job, or just because they don't have to work as they get money anyway, yes.

The time to study for a degree is not when you have a small baby. Do it before they are born, or do it when they are older. Don't do it when you have a small child to pay for.

As she is your sister why can't you help her out? Could you take time off work to babysit?

i think it is a PITA going to this type of eating but surely it is better than having her benefits stopped if you or another member of the family could help out and you have a bit of notice to get sorted.

I would email the jobcenter and ask for a list of child care providers - then contact each and everyone by email for a one of time and wait for the replies - then take the meals along and show with the responses if they are negative.

You live in dreamland woowoo, can i ask you what makes you so qualified to say when people should study for degrees?
My bet is you are stuck in a dead end job that you hate and dont have the option to study so project onto everyone else

Sh1t you are actually serious aren't you woowoo.

I had no idea people as ignorant as you actually existed.

You actually believe that genuine benefits claimants are to blame for NHS resourcing???????

Also, this may be a concept too far for you to understand but I'll try anyway.

Sometimes. Life. Doesn't. Work. As. Planned.

It's inconvenient, you know they people say leave marriages, lose jobs, fine, get ill. They really should have planned it better. Tsk.

Don't let anyone have any career aspirations though, because that's just greedy and thoughtless. Fancy wanting a better future for yourself and a tiny baby???

*should read "die" not fine..,stupid ipad typing

There are registered childcare services which specifically target this market - the OPs sister is not unique!

Contact the local Children's Information Service, explain the situation and they'll give a list of possibles.

Unfortunately, if you want to claim benefits, you don't have the luxury of not ever leaving your DC in someone else's care.

She's not 'waiting around for her dream job'. She has a place on GTP course which does not start until September, and she is studying in the meantime. She's not turning down good jobs because she wants to win the X Factor ffs.

She need to find out the amount of childcare costs that will be provided, and then see if she can book a temporary nanny through an agency (that will provide a letter-headed bill she can use as a receipt).

If she can get through to a human, it might be worth asking if they have any knowledge of how others in similar circumstances have managed it.

And, rueful grin time, this research will stand her in good stead for later if her childcare arrangements break down once she has started the GTP and absolutely has to be somewhere as part of that programme.

Glad that my 6 years of studying around 2 jobs whilst being a single parent is dismissed as bumming around on an OU course.

Such a shame that calling woowoo a cunt would be classed as a personal attack.

Whats the repercussuions for that southern? Totally warrented imo.

The jobcentre are obviously being arses. I second the idea of turning up with baby.

Woowoo, I like the idea that my tax could help another mum look after her child full time. Thank God not everybody is as bitter as you are.

My brother, with a degree and highly IT literate, had to do an IT course day when on JSA. Ridiculous waste of money.

Benefits are for people like the ops sister!! That's what the system was created for, Jesus, how dare she become a single mother and how dare she want to continue with her studies!!

By my calculations she would have already done at least a year of study before she fell pregnant, why shouldn't she have continued with her studies?!

Woowoo are only rich married mothers allowed to train to be teachers now?

I agree with random I'm quite happy for my tax to help a single mum survive while aiming to gain a successful career.
Because who knows, one day I may be in that position myself. And who knows woowoo you may be too.