Lone parents expected to seek work when kids are 5?

[champagnesupernova]

Just catching up on yesterday's news and saw this and was surprised there wasn't anything about this on here already

What do you think?

"I am also a school governor and the work involved in that takes up several hours most weeks"

Why use this as a reason why the taxpayer should pay your bills? I would love, dearly LOVE to be able to volunteer for reading sessions at school. Being a school governer is something a friend does, and it sounds like she really makes a difference. but she's a SAHM with a husband in a career. Why on earth would a single parent be able to use that sort of excuse? You're essentially asking us to indulge you in your volunteering passion. It might have benefits for your kids and the school, it's certainly a great thing to do... but I want to do it too. But I can't afford to, and so I ... well.. I just can't. End of story. I'm not going to use it as an excuse to beg for handouts.

All the governors at our school work, it doesnt take up that much time. Unless Bumbling can claim carers allowance then she'll have to fund her choice to quit herself anyway as once her child is 7 she wont qualify for JSA as its obvious she wont meet the criteria.

People not working so that they can do as they please is all the more reason the Tories need to cut welfare right back - the recent changes are obviously not enough if people simply quit work to pursue volunteering etc.

Bumble, don't quit your job, you may find yourself with the time but not the money. I would rather stop being a school governor but you and your child need that salary... while I was on benefits I didn't even have money for the petrol, DS birthday party/gift, etc. If you need to travel abroad so often... well it is not going to happen if you don't work.

Bumble if you need to loosen your workload then give up being a governor not your job. It will better for you and your family if you stay in work.

And it's perfectly possible to work and care for a child with special needs. I used to arrange the SEN review meetings, medicals etc in my lunch hour or straight after work.

You really don't need to give up work just so you can deal with the admin involved in SN statementing etc.

But what about finding non-existant childcare for an SN 13yo that cannot be left alone?

And as for 'why should someone get to 'choose' to be a SAHM if they are claiming some form of benefits' (which I assume includes HB/WTC/CTC). WHat about if their DP works FT for £16k (therefore they get all the above benefits + CB) and they can't work due to SN dc/ caring responsibilities/ disabilities in themselves/ no work in school hrs etc? And even if I did get a job - childcare min £52 a day, wages £46.80 a day. Am I choosing to be a SAHM with all my Dc in school? Nope - in fact I would prefer to work PT (most I can manage with my disability) as I'm going bloody insane sat at home all day.

People have misunderstood, I am not a single parent I can give up work without having to claim anything as dh earns enough to maintain us though we would of course have to cut back considerably.

However the fact is that if I were a single parent I would be struggling even more to find time for everthing. Of course being a school governor is a voluntary activity and I would drop that first. However the other things that are going on in my life mean that I am seriously struggling to work at the moment.

Caring for my elderly parents "saves the taxpayer" a lot of money. I do it because I want to but as with most caring, if it isn't paid it isn't valued. My parents require a great deal of care at the moment as do my niece and nephew and as does my son. I find myself increasingly unable to do all these things and work at the same time.

I know that if I give up work I will still be struggling to fit in everything in yet I also know that people will see me as someone who is "doing nothing" I can tell you that I won't be doing nothing and some of what I will be doing will saving taxpayer money.

So even if I were single and needed to claim taxpayer money I don't think I would feel bad about that.

The point I am making is that on the face of it things are not always what they seem.