What do I do? Job. Life .

[INeedSomething]

Hi there,

I’m fairly new here but I would love some advice, nice words or the complete opposite - a reality kick in the butt.

I’m a single mum to a 3,5y old. Me and his dad kept kinda good relationship and try to co parent as best as we can. He’s mostly looking after him if I have some appointments etc. But not a lot because he’s basically working 7 days a week and is rarely home .
Have no other family help from any side.

Before I had my son I was working 9 years in the same place FT, didn’t have any benefits, was generally fine. After maternity leave ended I went back part time but was made redundant together with everyone else after a year.
So now I’ve been not working for the past almost 2 years. UC. Luckily his dad is helping us with some small top ups otherwise we wouldn’t survive.
Little one is in nursery for his 15h Mon-Wed 8-1.
And it’s so so so so incredibly hard to find any job which would fit around me hours and days. Like almost impossible.
Job centre is pressing me. Restart program is pressing me and I genuinely don’t know what to do. I look and apply for any part time jobs that would fit around childcare but like I said it’s almost impossible. It would have to be like 9-12 so I can drop off and pick up him from nursery.
And sometimes time it’s starting to dawn on me. I just feel judged that I don’t work but relay on benefits. I get measly £680 pm. Hardly to get jealous.

If you got a job with more hours you could claim more funding for childcare.

The earnings thresholds went up earlier this year, and it's the amount you earn which determines how much they expect you to work.

If you were able to find a better paid job, the increase might be enough to get them off your case.

You could access the 30 free hours?

You should be entitled to more childcare than you are getting currently. Look into it

If you work you can get additional help with childcare. Plus lots of places do childcare vouchers.

Lots of single parents work - you need to get a job

People who work and earn £680 a month would not refer to it as measly! You come across as entitled and lacking in respect for those that do work for a measly £680 a month.