Hi I'm asking advice for a single parent friend.
She's been on income support for the last 4 years since having a child. That child now has special needs and she is also a carer.
Things have stabilised somewhat and she's been offered a job which is her dream job, with promises of progression. Her child starts School in September, with support, which is when her job would start.
She is quite excited by the prospect but terrified of the transition. It would mean giving up income support and carers, which means that if she couldn't cope after a month or so, then she wouldn't be able to go back onto those, rather put a claim in for UC. There are horror stories of this, she wouldn't cope with the upheaval and only just copes as it is in terms of managing everything to do with parenting and running a home. She has a lot on and gets no maintenance or weekends with dad. It is literally just her, and she's in a HA home.
Her child's needs mean she could stay at home for some time yet, which she is grateful for but misses working. However working also means further stresses on her, and she isn't sure she'll cope.
AIBU to ask what people would advise? I haven't said so directly, but in this situation I think it'd be wise not to change the status quo until she has to. But I also want what's best for her. She tries so hard.