Full time or part time and benefits?

[DancingintheDark17]

I'm currently a working full time single mum, thinking about positively of changing to part time.

I love my work, decent salary, good hours = no paid child care needed, lots of paper work done at home when DS in bed. Being committed 5 days is really taking its toll on priorities, my son and work are always sorted, which leaves me running around with every spare minute trying to clean. Having the extra days at home would creat a perfect balance, but knowing the drop in wages it was only ever a dream.

However my friend recently explained how she's retuning part time after maternity leave, as she will be entitled to x, y, z and when added together is nearly a full time wage.

If I made the change it would permanent, and to move back I would need to reapply.

Any advice? Experience?

This. Mumsnet is absolutely full of benefit-bashers.

OP, check entitledto or Turn2Us. Consider your son's age and the requirements you will have if claiming UC:
www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/your-responsibilities/
The amount you'll be expected to earn depends on DC's age.

I wonder how many PPs work part-time themselves...

I understand our personal circumstances differ, but if I'm going to go through with the change I need to do it right. I see families all the time just slightly over the threshold getting nothing, it's so unfair. If the support/reductions etc is available then you should go for iff to xx

As a single parent
i approach my finances strategically with no thought to what others may think about my choices
my one focus is to secure as much as a possibly can in order to provide best life and opportunities for the children

and if that means restructuring my work in order to maximise government support - so be it. And I don’t give it a second thought

This is where I'm really torn, I need the time but being at home during the pandemic was torture, my work is my structure. And if anything being at work is the least stressful part of my day, it's what I love. My problem is the time o have available after working all week to do. Work are already flexible with me and my sons in nursery so no care available.. I would loose too much more for little benefit by dropping a day, so I never saw being PT as an option but if I done enough days to wualify for benefits, the extra time off would be more beneficial with less financial impact

It’s utterly shit isn’t it? And when you finally burn out due to the abusive and convoluted nature of the system the finger then gets pointed at you.

if I could have afford to be independent, to not have had to rely on that shitty abusive system, I would have done it.

I completely agree making most of tax efficient ways for your own personal circumstances, as for help to buy, shared ownership, stamp duty holidays etc all those schemes have done is push up house prices even higher for first time buyers and get them into more debt than any previous generations.

Assume you're on the old tax credits system. The same is not the case for UC and they will harass you to apply for full time work even if you meet the minimum income threshold. You certainly don't get full benefits either. I work just a little more than you on tax credits and still have to pay £400 of my rent, get no council tax benefit and do not qualify for free school meals therefor all the extra benefits that award brings. UC they simply reduce your award for each and every pound you earn so far from full benefits under that system either. I work 5 days a week term time and supplement with a second job at weekends and during holidays as simply cannot survive on the part time wage alone. In a job that's so flexible that you enjoy I think you'd be crazy to change that. We'd all love a day off in the house to clean but for the majority it's not an option.

Are you in niche work OP? Obviously that will be a big consideration in whether you want to risk it, if you can financially survive on the benefit you will have the time to find work in your area of expertise so it probably is worth the risk if you simply cannot feel that you continue FT. Factor is the cost of living, economic uncertainties etc into your decision.

Luckily I was in accounting type job so it was easier to find a FT job than PT work and this was over 15yrs ago in a more stable economic climate which meant I was comfortable going down to PT.

I'm going to disagree with most people here. I say claim every benefit you can. It must be really difficult with a young child as a single mum. Children do so much better with a parent around, and even better when that parent isn't completely drained from constantly working. It doesn't have to be forever and there's nothing to stop you putting more in a private pension to make up for what you'd lose from your employer.

If it's feasible, I'd absolutely go for it.

I would only need to work 2/2.5 days to cover £1000 a month, so I would be better dropping more days and claim benefits and additional gov help, than only 1 or two days for same money and entitled to help.

You've talked yourself into it. Despite me disagreeing with the ethos of 'taking money from the government just because I'm entitled', I hope it works out well for you and I'm sure your mum will appreciate seeing more of you.

Wow, what a lot of judgy comments! Ignore the guilt trip and do what's important to you.
I was a single mum for years and lived on a mix of earnings and tax credits. Unlike you I didn't start off with a full time job but I deliberately avoided full time work as I felt my role at home was too important to sacrifice for money. It's true I didn't pay into a pension that whole time but my youngest is now at university and I am making up for lost time. I now work full time, and while I know I have a lot of ground to catch up I look back and accept that I live in a smaller house with a smaller car with possibly a smaller pension in my old age. It was the price I chose to pay. There is more to life than money.
You are not being a scrounger to take benefits rather than working - being a single parent is tough and you do what works for you.

@Oldtiredfedup growing up and aware how flawed the syetsm was is made me want to be financial stable, which I am, however it's just unfortunate circumstances for me where I have alot of other priorities to reach with on top of work, and not one bit of support is given to me, because I have a good job. I'm not talking about monetary support, more in terms of the community centre next door running wee workshops through Easter, only for low income families, i even offered to pay for it so he could go and play with his friends and they said no. The poor boy was demented looking at me by the end of the holidays,

@tomatoandherbs no, after your youngest is three or over you need to be working sixteen hours or over.
You are allowed to earn a certain amount before having UC reduced

Perhaps I should add, I'm self-employed. Also a conscious decision after being unable to find a part time job that worked for me. 15 years on and I own a thriving business. Not sure if that's an option for you but I would not want to go back to being employed. I've done some volunteering and the loss of autonomy is hard!

I made this decision a couple of years ago. I was working full time and a single parent of two and was running myself ragged trying to do everything. I now work 3 days a week and have a top up from UC every month. I know my pension will be lower but it was the best decision for my family. Once the kids are older I’ll look at going full time or finding a second job.

If you work.part time 16 hours you get full benefits, if you're a single parent.

this is wrong
because if you earn over the work allowance, you WILL have a tapering of your benefits

Ultimately you will always be better off in work. But your benefits will rightfully be tapered more you earn. Hours irrelevant in terms of tapering.

This comment is very telling:
"It's disgraceful really that they've lumped everything in together so they can treat everyone like scroungers"
You are clearly not alone in thinking that some benefit claimants are "scroungers" and others are not; it's the same age-old trope of the "deserving" v "undeserving" poor.

Also, with a school age child under 13 you are expecting to earn the equivalent of 25h/w at NMW. It only increases to 35h/w once they turn 13. Also, specific circumstances such as SEND and caring responsibilities should be considered.

Do you rent or have a mortgage? Not sure I go you've said already and I've missed it.

*expected

I'm contemplating a career change which would reduce my contracted hours. On paper it makes sense to stay where I am but I'm a single parent, both of my parents have significant health issues that need care (cancer and COPD) with lots of medical appointments to help with. I feel like between work, home, children and parents I'm running on empty.

It is very tough when a lot of responsibility falls on you and you have nobody to share the strain with. Time is as valuable as money at certain points in our lives and it's worth looking at how you can support your own health and Well being.

Your comment about why prioritise pension when you may not live that long. Most people do live long enough to be an issue especially if they decided to be part time over contributions and it makes much more difference contributing in the early years. For some it might mean not being able to survive until state pension age when they really can't work any more but can't manage on benefits etc. if your comfortable with that and accept if that happens it was your choice then I wouldn't judge.

But also I wouldn't rely on a certain level of benefits staying the same with inflation as I personally think we are going to be hit for a very hard time for many years economically which means less money going into the state.

I never ever thought it would be possible so I'm pleasantly surprised by my findings, and is definitely something I need to look further into for accurate information. But if I was able to get the visit and actually have quality time together rather than me I running around checking things or exhausted and falling asleep on her couch x

You are woefully misinformed about Universal Credit. Firstly people are not pressured to increase their working hours if they are earning the expected amount for their circumstances. Secondly earnings are not deducted pound-for-pound (where did you get that idea?!). UC claimants keep a significant amount of their earnings before their UC is deducted. The whole system is designed to ensure people are better off in work, and it's more generous to working people than the old tax credits system. If you are are on tax credits, I strongly advise you to do a benefit calculation to see if you would be better off on UC. You can do it yourself using entitledto or Turn2Us, or contact Citizens Advice and ask them.

FYI and anyone else who's interested, you can see how UC is calculated (including how much they deduct for earnings) at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/check-how-much-universal-credit-youll-get/

@AnotherEmma where did I say pound for pound? I said award is reduced, which it is. I didn't give the figure as I know it's changed and can't remember if the tip of my head. I know plenty people who are still being nagged to work although they earn over the threshold. Their benefits are not dependent on them doing so but they still have to listen to it. I've done a calculation thanks. Worked out about £13 per month better off - not worth it for me right now as I'd have to take an advance so would be a while before I saw that small benefit.