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 think its fair enough, they are saying that if you can't find work with suitable hours you don't have to take it - only difference really will mean having to go and sign on once a fortnight (oh joy of joys - I hate my Job centre )

Childcare I think is going to be the biggest stumbling block for most I think.

I know I've already accepted (well almost - still trying to get my head around it totally) that DS1 will be "home alone" during school holidays at 11yrs old and after school.

It's not great, but with the reduction of the child care element down to 70%, and the lack of childcare in our town I'm not sure I have any other choice.

Exactly , even at age 11 it's hard to leave them at home for the school holidays
most people I know who work have family around to help

I am a single mum, and I personally think that age 7 is low enough, unless they are going to magic some more 10-2 term time only jobs out of thin air.

My aunt NEVER worked at all when her children were at school, she had the first one at 18 and the rules used to be that you could get income support until the youngest was 16.

She was due to come off it soon as my cousin (her youngest) is 6, but I just found out she's having another child so it seems she'll be able to sit at home for another five years!

I wonder how many other mums are going to think it's a good time to have another child soon?!

chompchomp.....'mums' or 'single mums'??

Agree with nutcracker

I'm a single parent and ds has been in full time childcare since he was 10 months. He is 6 and at school now and is at before/after school care every day. He seems normal to me, or at least the same as his friends with SAHMs.

Of course if you are able to stay at home then that's nice too but I'd rather that my taxes weren't used to support you if you can't afford to support yourself.

dont think you have any say where your taxes go MollieO....they will be taken from you regardless....even if all benefit claimants were moved to the moon,the government would still take them off you to use as they please

If you have older kids & on benefits then why aren't these parents looking for work? Why should people (with little kids)who are in work be paying for others to sit at home?

well I have an older child (he's just turned 10) but I also have a nearly 7yr old and a just turned 3yr old.

I only mentioned DS1 as he's the one that'll have to fend for himself when I start working

I had to work once DD was 1 and DS was almost 3. Personally its miserable, we get ill too often and quality time is zero. No choice though. But I wouldn't wish it on other lone parents with small children.

Age 7 / 8 sounds more bearable, but even then there's a huge problem with school holidays.

As someone has already said you will be expected to search for a job with suitable hours.

Once your children are at school it makes sense to be working if you can find a job with suitable hours. Why would anyone want to be at home if their children are at school?

I think it is impossible to have a 'one size fits all' rule.

I am lucky, as my mum and xp share the care of my dc when I am at work. If I didn't live by family or xp then I would have to make sure my job was a term time, school hours one because even with 'help' I could not afford holiday clubs for 3 children.

It took me aggggggggggggggges to get the job I have got now, and in all of that time, there was only one suitable term time job that came up and I didn't get it. So until there are the jobs out there for all of these mums t find, then it is never going to work anyway.

i'm assuming there is a minimum hours rule?? how many?

I don't see what the problem is, it says a job with suitable hours. Working is what most of us do. Before you have children you do know they will have school holidays - it is not a bolt from the blue.

Sprinkle too true. Weirdly I would rather see benefits go to those who genuinely cannot work, eg those parents who have to care for a disabled child.

If you are fit and healthy and your children are at school what do you do all day?

Sprinkle - I presume it's 16 - as that's when WTC kick in.

vespasian - I had children with the thought that I would be at home with them during the school holidays, exH had a well enough paying job for me to be able to be a SAHM.

I didn't think of the possibility of having to sort out holiday childcare for them - For many single parents they had childcare "sorted" for the holidays before they became single parents and then it can come as a bolt out of the blue when you suddenly find it's just you and yours and have to sort it.

Most parents don't assume that they will one day be single parents though do they ?? So whilst it isn't a bolt from the blue, it isn't planned either.

I think it is time the government stopped picking on single parents to be quite honest.

Why can they not pick on the absent non working fathers instead ?

Mollieo - btw the hours of ten and two is not all day and those are the hours I'd be available to work once I'd done school runs and commuted to work

Applauds nutcracker

I accept that MaMoTatt and nutcracker.

There will lots of people "searching" for jobs as opposed to being in jobs because lets face it even in good economic times there aren't many family friendly jobs around.

I think everyones expectations will have to change. Employers need to get with it and appreciate that presenteeism isn't the be all and end all, being inflexible and having the mindset that all jobs must be worked Monday to Friday 9-5 not only puts barriers in place for women but it also means that they lose out on employing capable individuals who would benefit their organisation.

Parents also need to accept that putting your children in after school clubs once or twice a week and a couple of days in the school holidays isn't the end of the world. I don't call a job that involves putting your child into after school care 5 days a week "suitable" unless the family is happy with this arrangement.

I was discussing this with my mum yesterday and she was outraged she thinks that mothers should not be expected to work at all. My mum was a single mum and never worked. I disagree with her I think that times have changed and you have to be flexible. My youngest is 6 months old and by the time he is 1 I will have to bring some money in we can't manage on just dh's salary alone.

bows

Lol, that didn't quite work.

is easier when you have a partner though as you can look for evening/night work - especially when they're school aged and you can sleep during the day.