Income support meeting

[UmbongoUnchained]

Just wondering if IBU

Found myself as a single mum on benefits due to having to leave ex partner.
Last week I had an IS meeting with the job centre. She asked if I was planning on going back to work and I said yes, in the next year or 2 as I'm currently saving to pay for my C1 license so I can join the ambulance service.
She basically said it was a "pipe dream" and that I should probably just settle with a minimum wage job and look to going back to work immediately. I explained to her that with childcare and travel costs (I'm taking my driving test next month so currently rely on public transport) I was 250 pounds a month worse off when I was working. She then said "that's just life darling," and again tried to convince me to look for bar jobs.
AIBU to refuse to go back to work atm just to end up in debt again, never to be able to afford to do my C1 and actually get a nice stable job that will fund a comfortable life for myself and DD? She's only just turned 1 so have another 2 years until the IS stops, which is the time frame I'm giving myself to get my ass in gear! I've had a shitty year, fleeing domestic violence which she was aware of and only just managed to get back on my feet. I'm not planning to live on benefits, they're just really saving my ass at the moment! Really unsure now though whether I should just forget about the ambulance job, suck it up and try and muddle through on a minimum wage job where I wouldn't even be able to afford to buy food shopping :(
Any advice would be appreciated! Especially anyone who has been in my position! Thank you :)

Username I'm not in a dead end job worked my way up from school age, gained qualifications within work and also have a c1 to keep my options open and extensive health care experience. Thanks though.

I suppose some of us would be worse off on benefits for example young couples with a mortgage, children or no children, than others that don't own a home or have commitments as such and people that have always worked can't quite get their head around claiming them.

OP there's many offers online (not sure if in your area but im sw) that do a deal where you have so many lessons and then gain your c1. It works out cheaper doing in bulk I have known people to do them singularly. Good luck

Thank you everyone for your advise I'm definitely taking it on board.
SWfarmer thank you I will look into it as all I've found so far are just a one off payment of 900 pounds! That's why I'm needing around a year to save up for it, while looking for well paid jobs in the meantime.
Thank you for everyone's support on the DV front too, it's scary how common it is these days. Not only will this job be my dream, a good career for myself and my daughter but it will also be a huge fuck you to my ex who thought that women were nothing more than a hole to fuck when they get home from work.

Just a very practical question - I doubt the ambulance service job will involve very childcare-friendly hours. How will you cover shiftwork?

Whether you are being BU or not really depends on how realistic your work plans are.

Excellent point, Bibilo. But in case you've not yet noticed. This government doesn't do realistic. Don't know the meaning of the freeeeeeekin word. Anything is realistic in their little world. Meanwhile back here in the RW....Not so simple.
Look at IDS and his £53 per week challenge. Yeah we'd all be able to live for just one week on £53 if we were millionaires who could claim back money for expenses.

I think you are wrong about NHS not providing family friendly jobs. I have relatives in NHS who do shifts that are specifically designed around family needs.

I believe NHS is the largest employer in the country. As it offers a 24/7 service so is perfectly placed to accommodate this.

One of my relations works 4 twelve hour shifts over Friday to Monday, to share child care with his wife. Another married couple job share. These all work in the Ambulance service.

Biblio sorry I haven't replied all day I've been out and about. As mentioned in a previous post my mum is retiring around the time I would be starting and has offered to provide the childcare I would need to help me get started. I've spoken to a few paramedics about it before and they said there were lots of single mums who did it as the NHS provide a great childcare scheme.

This is something I've put a lot of thought into and was about to do my access course to do a paramedics degree but found out I was pregnant. Sadly uni now isn't an option as paramedics aren't funded by the NHS like the nursing and medical ones are.
Bit of a crap situation but I'm doing my best to come out of it the other side and not have to rely on top ups or anything.