New Deal for Lone Parents - your experiences please

[Lizita]

I am vaguely thinking of going back to work part time, i'm sure it's not financially worth it (and I think the fact that I'm in a privately rented flat has something to do with that, i.e. I would prob have to pay more rent once working than if I was in a housing association flat or council flat - am i right about that anyone?), but having looked at the website about New Deal, it all looks very good & welcoming and pressure free, even saying you can back out at any time. Is anyone on the New Deal and is it true what the website says? I'm scared of being pushed into going back to work or pushed into a course/job I don't want to do. I just want to do it light heartedly to see what all my options are. Please let me know your experiences. Ta.

bump! - and to add, have found out it's not worth going back to work part time but I really want my dd (who is now 2) to spend some time in someone else's care some of the time, and to do something different for myself also, so I still want to look into doing a course.
Any experiences of New Deal please?!

hi
basically it doesnt work for me. a few years ago a friend wanted me to work for him and i went to jc explaining what I wanted to do. he was prepared to declare any rate and any hours I wanted. It didnt matter how it was calculated I was always better off not working. this was because my mortgage repayments are relatively high and i shouldnt beable to maintain them. The jc should produce you a table of benefits offset against earnings which can have child care costs built in to it. good luck
I still work part time which jc agree to.
Depending on how long youve been on benefits affects the dss' ability to insist on you be actively seeking employment.
btw if youve time you can do as much voluntary work as you like.

I went to the job centre and in a very obscure way the guy told me it would be better financially to work because you still get some help, blah blah... he said he would send me the workings and never did. I also rent privately.

So I have decided to go to uni instead.

I would try part time... I think you can work 16 or less hours and that has little or no impact on your benefits. Not sure though.

Go and speak to them, they may have a really helpful advisor (unlike mine - whom someone had reccommended) and they may have good opportunities in your area.

check with jc but last time I was in - about a month ago - earnings up to £20 per week could be kept, but must be declared, anything above that is deducted £ for £ when on IS. new deal income works very similarly but you need calculations as varies per claim

The thing is it is SO bloody complicated, you make this and we minus this but we give you back this if you fill in that and then apply for this and we will credit you this...

and then you have to tell them about every tiny little change incase you accidently defraud the state!

Sorry, got carried away there.

Yes that's exactly how it is! When I was ringing round to find out if it was worth my while going to work part time, the housing benefit woman told me the state says we can live on a certain amount, therefore i have to pay this much rent, but that "certain amount" ignored the fact that my child tax credits would actually be paying for child care! So in reality they were actually leaving with me half the amount they think i should be able to live on (and that's a joke in itself!) And I'm now just simply unable to attempt to give anything back to "society". i don't even think it would be worthwhile going back full time, even if i wanted to! (Unless i was on a huge salary)