KIT days aren't an advantage if you don't have free childcare?

[DreamyNavyMentor]

I've got 9.5 days KIT but no childcare so pointless me doing it. Little one can get the 15 hours in September but childcare is £210 per week (full time).

I earn £31k a year so £2k take home.

Aibu that kit days arent beneficial for single mums or those without help?

They’re not just about money though, they’re about keeping in touch with work. Depends on your job but very advantageous in my work regardless of the money.

Well you aren't being unreasonable saying you can't go on a KIT day if you can't get your child / children looked after. Once you have young children you can't work or go anywhere without your children if you can't get someone to look after them.

I never bothered with KIT days on maternity leave last time. I don't think I will second time round either. My work didn't mention it so neither did I.

How important is it to the type of job to do these days though? Do you need to do them?

Well, it’s multifactoral isn’t it?

Some jobs will have conferences/training/events that you can attend

Sometimes specific times of the year might require input etc.

You’re paid for them and they aren’t compulsory.

For me they’d have been worth it even if I paid for childcare.

I used all my KIT days with my first and, although it was useful as I was switching teams, it was more hassle than it was worth in terms of childcare. I didn't use them with my second, and I won't with my third either.

Totally agree! My work are assuming I am going to use them, when actually, I won’t be able to for this exact reason - plus I cannot wait to have a year off thinking about work!

If you’re a single parent You can claim for ofsted registered childcare costs throughUC whilst on maternity leave. Up to 85% so may still be worth it if you can find an ad hoc childminder.

Alternatively, if you have a partner they can take a day of annual leave. You can do a few hours for a KIT day and get paid for the full day.

They are no different to anything else that's hard when you don't have help or childcare.

Where I work most of the mums on maternity leave bring their babies with them in KIT days. It's really not a problem. I don't know where you work but maybe just ask if you can bring the baby too?

Bear in mind that your take-home pay may be higher during your maternity leave: depending on where it falls in the tax year, so you'd keep a higher proportion of your KIT pay.

I believe UC is based on savings, other property and income - not because you are a single parent.

Missing the point - it's about being a single parent and finding childcare for ten days (who wants to leave thore child with a stranger for a day) isn't worth it financially

I don't understand

Nothing is going to come good about going to work for one day a month?

Just a way to earn money, ten days worth of say your statutory maternity leave has ended

I have done and it's not worth the hassle. I did half a day and baby made lots of noise - he's now teething. I don't think I want the hassle and I can't concentrate either

My job isn't important. Nothing to attend.

I could do it when I'm returning to work when I earn nothing but than I'm paying for childcare so what's the point....

Tax free threshold?

Yeah, you need organized childcare to work.
That being said, it totally depends on line manager and companies policy.
I have seen women bringing babies for one hour meet up and getting a full day pay.
I have also seen cuntish line managers pestering women between kit to provide advice and work for free.

If you don't care about your job and can easily get new one just agree to kit days and let baby be noisy
Even if you had partner havinv AL to look after it people wouldstill be able to hear it.

Yeah but it's hard to get one of childcare

I think it's the case that in the old days you couldn't work even 1 day during maternity leave without your maternity leave automatically being brought to an end (i.e. you'd be classed as having returned to work).
The introduction of KIT days addressed this, therefore enabling women to 'Keep in touch' with their workplace without this happening.

I agree that there may not be a financial advantage in doing a KIT day if you have to fork out for childcare. They are optional though so I guess it's whether you see any other benefit to doing it. Yanbu in feeling the way you do as an individual, but obviously they are of benefit to many women who do have childcare available, so clearly I'm an advocate for them overall!

If it benefits you, do them. If it doesn't, don't! I work in a special school, had awful antenatal depression and anxiety, and had really struggled with work during my pregnancy (usually I love my job). Subsequently, was extremely anxious about going back. My mum was able to look after baby when I did my KIT days, and they made my return to work so much easier. They were brilliant for me. But every situation is different. They aren't compulsory and are meant to help the mum, so if they don't help you, don't do them.

Well don't do any then. It really isn't a big deal. It's voluntary.

The tax year begins 5 April, you can earn just over £12k tax free each year - for simplicity lets say £1k monthly.
If you begin mat leave in April, you'll only have one months salary at that point - lets say your gross is £2.5k monthly - so £5k for two months, six weeks at 90%, 33 weeks at around £184
£2.5k + 30/52x6x90% + 33x184
£2.5k + £3,115 + 6,072 = £11,817

If you don't receive any maternity pay top up, by the end of the tax year you'll only have earned £11.8k, so a KIT day will be tax free.

so, that's how the timing of the KIT day and mat leave can mean less or no tax on the kit day.

Thanks.

My sat pay ends end of Aug so I don't think it's going to beneficial due to childcare as well... Which is another thing I need to think about. Because I don't know if baby will be ok having 5 full days :/