Where do I stand with benefits if I want to Home ed?

[cluckiemama]

I am a single mum currentlyreceiving income support and child tax credit and child benefit. I have decided to de-register my ds from school after this half-term, but I am now worried about my benefits, does anyone know where I stand?

It won't affect your benefits at the moment - however, when he reaches the age where you need to claim JSA (coming down to 7 next year iirc) then it may do.

I'm interested myself but nobody seems to know the answer!

Thanks Anarchy! My ds is 10 but I have a dd (4) who will still be in school because she's enjoying it at the moment.

I really want to HE and I don't want anything to get in the way of that so I am just trying to think of everything.

Maybe someone will be able to give us the exact answer soon

Can I ask why you want to Home Ed? Is it a really horrible school? Just wondering cause it sounds like sooooooo much work. I don't think I could ever do it. And I wonder what motivates people to take that on.

In reply to you Athene, I want to do it because my ds is so un happy at school, it is meant to be an outstanding school and it probably is academically but the teachers have no warmth or actual understanding of children, they're all treated like robots who are supposed to conform to the school's expectations.

I know it is going to be hard work but it will be so rewarding knowing my ds is learning and happy.

Oh... that's not cool. I'd get him out of there too. But I'd be very unlikely to take on HE. You are a better person than I am.

IF you get yourself onto the home educating single parents yahoo group (here ) there will be people who can advise you. Essentially, once you get to the magic age for the government to be demanding you go on job seekers, you are at the mercy of your local job centre, but there are encouraging noises about ways of being able to argue that you can't, by definition, find suitable childcare if you are educating your child yourself full time. Anyway, ask on that list and they'll give you the low down

I agree with onward-the HE Single Parents list, is the place to get advice from others in your situation-I know this has been a hot topic there for sometime.

There is also a page about Welfare reforms that affect home educators on the Freedom for Children to Grow website.

Julie, thanks for thatThat website was really informative