worse off working!

[MissPricklePants]

my housing benefit has been reduced and nursery fees have increased so im now worse off working. I do 16 hours a week on minimum wage and can't increase my hours. I have more money coming in than when i was on income support but so much more going out. Im now getting further into debt each month do I carry on or leave and go back on benefits until I go back to uni next sept?advice please!

If being on IS would mean you would stop getting further into debt, I can't see what the point of working is if you're not taking home enough to live on

Tbh I can see your point, what a crappy situation - so much for helping people to work.

If you can cope with not working I'd be inclined to leave - especially if you are sliding into debt each month as a result of working.

I struggle each month but just aboiut break even so can cope but have been told that financially I'd be better off NOT working. As I break even though and like my job I carry on....if I was in YOUR situation though I'd be gone.

Will the job lead to better things though? Is there training available to you or promotion you could aim for? If you are working, even if you are worse off now, will things get better? Are you going back to uni full time? Is your current work relevant to your studies (so good for the old cv)?

What a pain for you - we are all going backwards these days!

working has benefits eg getting out of house and being around other adultss; self esteem and confidence; pays into a pension(usually) ; paid holiday leave etc it is a longer term investment in yourself

Is there any possibility of having a chat with your employers and getting a pay increase? Sourcing new workers is expensive so they may not want to let you go for the sake of an extra pound an hour for example.

Hope this might be possible sweetie, I feel for you x

Do you now get Working Tax Credit though and the childcare assistance?

You should be getting working tax credit and child tax credit. That will include 80% of your nursary costs. You need to tell them as soon as the costs go up.

Could you actually claim benefits if you left? Does that apply if you are on IS rather than jobseekers? I know that I will be forced off IS when my daughter turns 7 in May.

my dd is 2 so should be able to get i.s. The job has zero prospects and I do not get paid leave etc and isnt related to my degree, Im going back to uni to complete postgrad study. I get wtc but as I get minimal help with rent and council tax i am in arrears with nursery if that makes sense. Going to ring job centre and see an advisor about it. Ex has minimal involvement with dd so won't (through choice) have her so I can work.