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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to work for £3.58 an hour?

290 replies

DontHaveAGoPlease · 03/05/2018 17:56

Going to get absolutely flamed for this!

I'm a single mum to 1, in regards to UC, I get the equivalent to a monthly full time wage this includes CM.

If I go back to work for 22 hours a week, I will be effectively earning the above an hour.

Do I just suck it up or wait for my DS to get his 15 Hours free??

I am desperate to work but I'd hate to look back and regret outsourcing my childcare all for the above. Shall I just suck it up and go for it or suck it up and look after my ds??

I've already braced myself for the flaming!

OP posts:
FASH84 · 03/05/2018 19:31

OP doesn't sound like she's in a minimum wage job if childcare minussed from hourly rate is £3.58 unless she's getting very very cheap childcare. Ultimately you say you want to work. Work.

BrieAndChilli · 03/05/2018 19:31

I really don’t think benefits should be a life choice for anyone barring the disabled who are unable to work.
Plenty of people with a husband have to go to work so it’s not really here or there if you are a single parent or not.

Frouby · 03/05/2018 19:33

It's difficult OP. I was in a similar situation when dd was little. I was £15 a week better off working. Which was fine. I liked my job which was just a job not a career. I liked working. Dd liked nursery. However if dd was ill I was worse off as I didn't get paid and still had to pay nursery, full rent and ctax.

I think UC goes some way to address this issue though. But small dcs are sometimes ill. And as a single parent it's usually impossible to do anything other than take time off.

PurpleTigerLove · 03/05/2018 19:34

And yet people continue to say that benefits aren’t alifestyle choice . ......

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 03/05/2018 19:37

YANBU
Even Universal Credit, shitty as it is, doesn't put you in the "all work related requirements" group (i.e: actually enforce the requirement to return to work) until your youngest child is three...
For exactly this reason.
Its only another year or so before you get the nursery hours. Do what's best for you.

hairycoo · 03/05/2018 19:37

yanbu. if you child is still young you would be better going to college or doing a uni degree part time so that by the time your child is school age you will be able to get a better job. i wouldnt judge a single parent on benefits trying to better themselves for the long run.

megletthesecond · 03/05/2018 19:41

What storm said.

However think long term. If you're working 3 days a week it should be ok. And you'll have a pension and keep your hand in the job market.

I've always worked 3 days a week as a l.p. It's very hard tbh but I think it'll be worth it in 10 years or so when the dc's are off to uni and I can work more hours.

hungryhungryhippo8 · 03/05/2018 19:42

Nah. I don't want to pay someone else to raise my kids for me to earn pittance so I'm not.

PoorYorick · 03/05/2018 19:43

I guess you have a DH though who is in work. Quite different bit different from families who are 100% benefit dependant.

This was the subject of a very interesting thread a while back. Should we think differently of a SAHM who relies on benefits compared to a SAHM who relies on a partner's income? If so, why, and if not, why not?

Sitranced · 03/05/2018 19:43

That's not your hourly rate, that's what you take home after paying one of your bills.

saison4 · 03/05/2018 19:44

nah. I don't want to pay someone else to raise my kids for me

so working parents don't raise their DC? fuck off!

hungryhungryhippo8 · 03/05/2018 19:45

so working parents don't raise their DC? fuck off!

Not for the hours you're at work no, obviously. Hmm

Original poster
DontHaveAGoPlease · 03/05/2018 19:49

I've been told by so many not to waste the time working right now and being there for my DS.

OP posts:
trixiebelden77 · 03/05/2018 19:49

In what way is putting a roof over their heads and food on the table not raising your children? Changing a nappy is raising them but paying for it is not? What a bizarre take on parenting.

Original poster
DontHaveAGoPlease · 03/05/2018 19:50

The job I've been offered has 0 progression, I won't get any further than I start in.

OP posts:
PoorYorick · 03/05/2018 19:50

I was wondering how long it would take to become one of those threads.

IJustLostTheGame · 03/05/2018 19:51

I think it depends on what you'd really gain or lose OP.
If it's a career job that in 3 years time means you'll be much better off it's probably best to suck it up.
If you won't find a job that pays enough in three years I'd say suck it up.
If you need to work for your own sanity then suck it up.
If it is just a job you can pick up again in a few years time and you can manage without the £3 an hour I'd say don't bother.

PurpleTigerLove · 03/05/2018 19:52

I hope you’re ready for UC hungry hippo . You’re the reason it’s being implemented in the first place . Well done on raising your kids yourself , just remember everyone else is paying for it .

Branleuse · 03/05/2018 19:52

Id honestly wait until you get some free nursery hours, unless you have a real desire to go back to work or it will affect your career if you dont. Your baby is still so little

Littlechocola · 03/05/2018 19:52

That’s like saying I get £3.55 after electric.

What do you do for work op?

BitchQueen90 · 03/05/2018 19:53

I spent 3 years on benefits because of the costs of childcare. I don't have a "career", I have no qualifications so I've only ever been on minimum wage. I'm not particularly bothered about what people think of me for it. I work now DS is at school and we are a lot better off than we were on benefits because I work school hours so don't have childcare costs.

I thought UC were a bit stricter now though and they expect you to be looking for work? It was income support when I was on it and they didn't really make a fuss until your child is school age but I thought it was different now.

RaininSummer · 03/05/2018 19:59

I work in a graduate role in education and pay rises and bonuses are rare indeed. If the job is a non progressive sort then you may as well not work but use those early years to improve your job prospects. Do some courses online, volunteer for things where baby can come too etc.

musicposy · 03/05/2018 20:01

I work to pay for DH to travel to work - how ironic is that? He works over 50 miles away in a modestly paid job in an industry not available any nearer. We are in a rural location which doesn't help. it costs us a shocking amount of money to get him to work every month - £800 on a good month. Which is almost what I earn. None of the alternatives (moving nearer, him getting a job here, me working more) are as easy as they sound.

Sometimes you have to just suck it up.

Original poster
DontHaveAGoPlease · 03/05/2018 20:04

If you are pissed the tax payer is paying for my DS, then message my ex. He is the sole reason I'm on benefits.

I didn't want this life, I didn't want to be on benefits, I was meant to go straight back to work, he was meant to help, his family were going to be there.

Oh look, none of them are Hmm

OP posts:
gingerh4ir · 03/05/2018 20:05

If you are pissed the tax payer is paying for my DS, then message my ex. He is the sole reason I'm on benefits.

No, you made that choice. You could work if you would want to.

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