How do you get off income support and find a part time job?

[StarsAreShining]

I'm increasingly becoming desperate to find a job. I've been living alone with my son for many years. I've had mental health problems, which I am now receiving treatment for. The problem I have is that I no longer enjoy spending time with my son, who is almost four. I feel so drained by it. For many years, we've had very little contact with other people, and it's gotten to the point that I really don't get anything out of being around him anymore. I hate feeling like this. It makes me feel very sad and guilty, but there's not much I can do about it. I've tried to force myself to just keep playing and doing things with him for years, but all I want to do is be left alone. I think that, if we had some regular time apart, I'd really appreciate the time we do have together. It sounds really silly to say that, but, although we spend all of our time together, we never have any 'quality' time together, because I feel exhausted by being around him. He is a particulary demanding child.

My question is this: how exactly do you go about getting a part time job as a single parent? I know that I won't find a job which fits around nursery hours, so what help would I get with childcare costs? I don't really think I can handle a full time job right now, as I'm quite fragile at the moment, but is it possible to take a part time job? Would I be able to claim working tax credits to top up my money? How would this affect housing benefit? I have no idea of how all of this works and my lone parents advisor at the job centre has proved useless so far.

Hi :-)
Well done you for managing so far, and looking at a job!
I think you need to work a min of 16 hours a week to qualify for CTC and WTC, I work 16 hours, and get both. You should also get help towards childcare through TC as well, but I don't think they pay it all, I am self employed so have always managed to work around nursery hours. I have no idea how it affects housing benefit or council tax benefit, but would imagine both will be effected to some degree, depending on how much you get paid.
You coud try the CAB, and the tax credit website has an estimate thing on it so you can get an idea of how much you would get.
Look in the local papers, ask friends if they know of anyone needing employees, there should at least be some seasonal stuff available this time of year which will give you an idea of how you can juggle things and cope with working on top of caring for your son, and see if it actually helps!
Good luck :-)

Froggies is right - you need to work 16 hours to get tax credits, working less than that is a bad idea if you'd have to pay for any childcare as you won't get any help towards the cost. Your HB and council tax benefit will both go down if you're working, possibly stop altogether depending how much you earn. So you won't end up a great deal better off but might be happier and will find it easier to increase your hours and income in a year or so once DS starts school. Another option if you're still feeling fragile would be to look for some voluntary work. Might be more flexible if you have bad days. Shame the lone parent advisor is rubbish - would have thought that queries like yours are exactly the sort of thing they should be there to help with

Yes, the lone parent advisor doesn't seem to have any real knowledge. Just refers me to other people such as the CAB. I would want to work at least 16 hours a week. I'm currently on income support, so I know that would stop and the tax credits would help me out instead. Do you think it's very selfish to take on a part time job which isn't financially better than benefits and miss out on time with my son just because I can't handle being alone with him all the time? Really don't get any enjoyment from it now because it's constant. Realised that he'd probably get far more out of being with a childminder, as he'd be able to play with other children and be with somebody who could give him their time and attention. Somebody who has a bit of energy left!

I wish it was easier to work out these kinds of things. I don't have a job yet and it's very difficult to work out what kinds of help would be available in various situations. I don't even know how to go about finding a childminder! Do people usually use a childminder for hours which fall outside of nursery?

He starts school in sept? My biggest worry would be the school holidays. Unless you are lucky enough to get a job in a school

I don't think it's selfish at all to go to work to give yourself a bit of a break. I am absolutely sure that when my DD was nursery age I was a much better parent to her because I had a break from the DCs whilst at work - my DD was, like yours, quite a demanding child, terrific fun at times, but just very demanding of my time and energy)

And on top of that, even though you may not earn much more money initially, you're much more likely to be able to earn more in the future.

You can use a childminder either full-time or part time. I think that social services can provide a list, or it should be on the web (or via Ofsted maybe?)

In terms of school holidays I've never found that a problem (though I live in a large town) - there are lots of kids clubs around run by various private companies, also one at my DC's primary school and one by my employer. Worth checking that out when you're choosing a school/applying for jobs. Also some childminders do just school holidays, or if you have family or friends who will help that may just about stretch to cover part-time work. Good to build up contacts with other parents if you can, as it's always good to have people to call on for the odd time when formal childcare doesn't quite work.

I did voluntary work when my DS was small, I was still with ex then. It was a great way of filling in my CV rather than a gap of no work at all. The hours were flexible and I got experience and training. When my marriage broke up I got help to get my CV done through an agency who worked with single parents on benefits. I was very lucky that through the voluntary work, I had some paid childcare in a nursery and when I found full time work, was able to start straight away and simply change DS from part time at nursery to full time.

I was actually much better off working, a minimum wage 16hr job won't take your HB and CTB down by that much. The tax credits also bump up your wage.

If you have been on benefits for 6 months you get a one off back to work grant too, which was £250 IIRC.

The added confidence and self esteem from working really helped me get back on my feet. It also gave me the spring board to go on to other things such as studying.

Good luck.