If I give up my employment because I can't afford to pay for childcare does that mean...

[OhioOhioOhio]

I won't get any help from the government?

Well honestly there are too many variables to say, you may get help and still be expected to look for work. But by and large I wouldn’t say you’d be left to starve.

Maybe if we know how old your children are etc we may be able to help.

Is it really cheaper to not work? My nursery costs £3.76 per hour after the 20% bonus is deducted which is less than half of minimum wage. I had planned to only work three days a week thinking childcare costs would be extortionate but they weren’t.

Of course if you have 2 children in nursery then you may well be better off at home for a short while. I don’t know anything about claiming UC but I know they take savings/equity into account.

I pay £600 a month for nursery and get about £400 back through universal credit. Household income about £32k between both of us.

www.entitledto.co.uk

Check to see if you can claim any costs back

You can lose benefits if it is deemed you have given up your job and become 'voluntarily unemployed'. But this is decided on an individual basis and we can't necessarily tell you if you would fit into this category. It would be best to speak to someone at JobCentre Plus etc or maybe CAB can advise, not sure exactly what they cover.

I believe you could still claim benefits for any children, but you could lose them for you for a certain length of time, but this is only normally for a few weeks, then you can claim for yourself. Again, it is worthwhile checking with the benefits agency.

It might be better for you to see if there is any way you can get help with childcare costs. Depending on your salary you might not qualify for money via Universal Credits but you might get help towards childcare or council tax and rent (unless you have a mortgage), might be worth investigating that before looking to see if you would be better off fully on benefits. (On national minimum wage we still have half our rent paid and get some council tax benefit).

Getting back into work can be hard if you take time out until dc start school so it might be better for your career for you to struggle financially now, hard but might be worth it, especially if you can claim some help towards childcare etc.

If you’re able to work then you don’t need and shouldn’t get help from the government

@alicewond

That’s not very helpful to the topic is it? OP said “I can’t afford” childcare. Not that she’s disinclined to work.

Minimum wage plus working tax credits (not including child benefit which is standard) even as a single person will always cost less than childcare costs @gindaddy, they are designed this way to encourage people to work

It won't always be less. It depends upon the number of children and the cost of childcare for those children. It wouldn't be for me.
Sorry OP I don't know the answer to your question.

^
Minimum wage plus working tax credits (not including child benefit which is standard) even as a single person will always cost less than childcare costs @gindaddy, they are designed this way to encourage people to work^

Eligibility for child benefit is salary capped, not standard.
Overall childcare costs depend on how many children you have that need childcare and how many receive their early years funding.
Work expenses are more than just childcare!

Work expenses are more than just childcare!

If you have thought about leaving your current job, could you look for one that is closer to home. I couldn’t actually afford to pay the £160 on top of childcare to take the train to work each month so I am looking closer to home, hopefully within walking distance so we can sell one car.

Hi how old are the children? If you are primary carer and the youngest is under 3 then you are not required to work to receive UC. I think there's some job searching required after that point... You would have part of the income held back a few weeks after that age I believe.
If it works better for your household don't be guilted by others to stay working especially if it's makes you no better off or as in some cases worse due to costs of getting to work etc

Are you single? As its household income for a lot of support.

Minimum wage plus working tax credits (not including child benefit which is standard) even as a single person will always cost less than childcare costs, they are designed this way to encourage people to work

They don't take into account rent, council tax, food, transport costs, utilities, clothing/shoes, and the other myriad costs involved with living. They're also capped so if childcare exceeds the cap, no matter how much it exceeds it by, you won't get any extra.

Can you give us some more information? How many children do you have and what are their ages? What work was it you were doing?

Do you have a DP / DH that you could share childcare with so you could work some evenings / nights / weekends etc instead when he's home?

OP, the only way back from this is a printed public apology in the parish newsletter.

Ah balls, wrong post

Minimum wage plus working tax credits (not including child benefit which is standard) even as a single person will always cost less than childcare costs@gindaddy, they are designed this way to encourage people to work
It is not the min wage + benefits situation where people are struggling with the childcare costs, it is mid-high earners (no subsidy) + single parenthood + South East + nursery aged children. Two children in full-time nursery here is easily an equivalent of a 50K salary - assuming that otherwise you don't eat, rent or transport yourself.

It is not the min wage + benefits situation where people are struggling with the childcare costs
That's very true, but if you have a decent income, giving up that secure job is madness when there is a definite risk of struggling to get a similar one again on a couple years time with gap of employment. It also means the likelihood on passing out on a promotion.

@OrangeSwoosh please provide a link to where that belonged it sounds fascinating!

Yes please @OrangeSwoosh, I'm curious as well.

Ha ha OrangeSwoosh has just found a way to get us all going

Came across the thread OrangeSwoosh meant to post in, I think.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/thirty_days_only/3681401-Worried-about-how-I-ranted-at-a-woman-yesterday

@swingofthings
It is a balancing exercise. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had taken a 3-4 years break when my children were younger. I remember the times when you have to get up at 6, to get everyone ready to be in the nursery at 7.30 (one hysterical, one still sleepy, 30 mins travel), then 1.5 hours commute to a "career" job, then dashing out at 5 (the rest of the team usually works until 9), 1.5 hours back to the nursery (6.30 closing time), a fine of £1 per minute lateness if the train is held on the red signal, then 30 mins travel home - both are asleep by the time we're home, they have had their dinner aka supermarket sandwiches in the buggy on the bus. Then back on the laptop until midnight to catch up with work. Rinse, repeat. At the end of the year you are just deeper in debt, work is not too keen on you as you are so unreliable with illnesses and permanently knackered, and the children start addressing you by the name of their nursery key person.

@EEmother, I did it too and yep, it was very hard work, but in the meantime, I forged a name and got promoted. That promotion meant I was able to get a mortgage. With the experience gained I was able to apply for another job and better pay.

I look back now and the things my kids have been able to get and do thanks to the decision to keep going. They only few memories they have of that time are good ones. Going to nursery installed a sense of discipline that has also helped them as they grew up.

It was by far the best thing to do but I agree that it isn't always the case for everyone.