giving up work?

[helpconfused]

I just don't know what to do.

Not sure if anyone has seen my posts lately...
I have separated from my partner.

I have had to apply for benefits - been awarded less in tax credits than was on the calculators. Might be entitled to £24 a week housing benefit.

If they decide I am not eligible for HB this will mean after paying the bills I will be left with £170 from my wages a month for food/petrol/general living/clothes for myself and my son. I work 30 hours. I have cancelled Sky, Internet, standing order to DS Trust fund account.

I have applied to CSA and they have contacted XP who is on good money at the moment but over the past year hasn't earned much so think max we could get if he pays for DS will be £35 pw.

I'm at a complete loss of what to do. If I give up my job (which I don't want to do) I will lose my salary sacrifice car and have to pay a termination fee, which I don't have.

I have no savings and might have to move house yet (housing association - domestic violence).

Any advice gratefully received!

OP- sorry, I have no advice to give as I really don't know what you should do for the best.
Just to say though, I hope it all sorts out well for you.

Why don't you wait until you can see what money you finally get? You can resign anytime, but you can't get a job back if you change your mind.

So you should have 170 + 140. Can you apply for ccvs? They can save you up to £50 a month in tax I think. Your company doesn''t need to offer them, just apply to the provider on-line. Can you appeal the tax credits?

Also I found when I split from ex, the food & water bills dropped by 75% too. Heating too for some reason. Good luck, I hope it works out.

I am hoping the gas and electric drops.
Yes food should be less. I didn't think about that one.
I had to cancel the childcare vouchers for the car when we got that.

I also didn't think about the other voucher schemes. I that where the government top it up by 20%?

Thank you - this is just what I needed, other ways of looking at things that I haven't thought of.

Ah no, as I've been awarded tax credits I can't open a tax-free childcare account :(
Thanks for trying to help anyway x

This isn't easy.

Have you already counted the 25% reduction on council tax if you are the only adult in the house?

Sit tight for the moment to see whats whatt. If you do get housing benefit you can apply for discretionary payments and maybe due to tax credits the warm home scheme

Would working condensed hours save you any money? 9 days over 2 weeks would save travel costs?

How much do you think you can live on per week for food?

If you voluntarily give up work you're not automatically entitled to benefits, there's a waiting period of some sort I think. As far as child maintenance goes they will base it on his previous years income, however if his current salary is more than 25% higher you can apply for a mandatory reconsideration based on this.

I would try to stay in work, because it is not just about the money, you have routine, social interaction with other people, depending on what sort of employment you may have sick pay, holiday pay, employer who contributes to your pension. You should always be better off working. Secondly, if you leave your job voluntarily, you will probably have to wait for a long time to receive any benefits

The waiting period if you resign from a job is up to 26 weeks.

I would be very wary of going down that route.

That's only if the ops child is over 5 and she's looking to claim jsa. If the child is under 5 she can claim income supprt and wouldn't have to wait to claim.

Thanks all. Leaving my job is the last thing I want. It's just what other people have suggested. I work for the NHS so decent holidays and pension contribution.

I've been trying to stay at work even though my brain isn't working properly at the moment. I feel so stressed. Need routine for my son (and to keep myself busy). I just don't think I'd do well mentally if I didn't work! The only time I've not worked was on mat leave. Before that I always had both a full and a part time job.

I've cancelled everything I can cancel. Reduced other payments and clawed back about £100. I'm usually on top of my money and itemise everything so this is so stressful to me not know if I can afford to live.

DS is two years x