....to think that going on UC would be better than going back after maternity leave?

[TheDelorean81]

Long time lurker but this is my first post so please be nice to me :)

Basically I don’t know what to do. My little boy is two months old and I’ve starting to look at what will happen when I go back to work next spring. After costing up childcare in the area I’m in I’d basically be paying to go back! We’d lose my entire income from the family pot.

My partner works different shifts each week so finding a different job to work around his so we can share childcare is out of the question.

My question is this. Would I be unreasonable to go on Universal Credit for a year (ish) until the free childcare element kicks in and I can afford it? Or until my partner can find a better job to support us? Or until I can find a better job that works? My family and my partners family are all saying I should (they’re all very high earners and reckon I’m should make use some of their taxes....not sure what to say to that!), but I just feel that it’s not what benefits are there for?

But in the same vein I’m struggling to see another option.

Anyone else here with personal experience?

I believe that those having children under 2 or 3 have special dispensation, but I'm not sure.

That isn't a monetary thing, it's a work requirements thing.

I was interested too entropy. When I get some spare time I was going to run some numbers through the calculations to see what might be happening as you are right, UC is supposed to make people in work better off.
85% of childcare costs paid up to a maximum which off the top of my head I cant remember but would cover a part time place. A £200ish work allowance. And keeping 37% of everything above the work allowance. Seems odd.

I'm wondering if she's not done an equivalent benefits calculation with in work figures.
So she knows her benefits entitlement if not working and she knows her working income - childcare if not claiming benefits.
But she doesn't know her benefits entitlement whilst still working.

I’d do anything it takes not to go back to work and stay home with my DS until nursery age. Don’t bank on the free child care hours though. My HV was giving me leaflets before and handed me one about the free hours but said ‘I’ll give you this anyway as it’s in the pack but it’s getting scrapped so you won’t benefit’ 🙄🙄