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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

P/T work & income support?

18 replies

DoingItForMyself · 21/06/2012 13:50

Husband moved out today, leaving me with 3 DCs and a house to support.

Just been told by the obnoxious man on the Income Support line that as my youngest child is now 5 I can't work part time any more, I need to be looking for/available for a job with more hours and be claiming Jobseekers allowance in the meantime. Is this right?

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AnyoneForTennis · 21/06/2012 13:51

16 hours is what you need for tax credits

You can't claim Inc support he is right. How many hours do you work now?

daffydowndilly · 21/06/2012 14:42

I think he is right, IS is just until the child is 5 (legal school age).
But there are working tax credits, child tax credits, help with childcare, job seekers allowance.

But... I was unaware you can work part time on IS? What is the maximum hours/pay?

Sorry to hear that he moved out leaving you in the lurch btw.

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 21/06/2012 15:16

thanks. he will be contributing something towards DCs upkeep but I will be paying for house etc

Found out I can get tax credits if i work more hours, so will put in some extra hours to boost business

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PandaSpaniel · 30/06/2012 20:55

Oh hon I feel for you. You will be fine though (at least financially), if you can get the extra hours (I think the govt. have recently upped it to 24 hours) then you will get working tax credit, child tax credit and child benefit.

If the house is mortgaged I am not sure if you can claim housing benefit but you will be entitled to council tax benefit which is a big help.

I am also going through a break up :(

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 30/06/2012 21:55

Thanks Panda. Have been looking into it and should be able to get some tax credits - seems to be ok at 20 hours a week on the HMRC calculator, but I am hoping to increase my hours anyway (I'm self-employed and can easily spend a few hours a week posting flyers through doors etc if it helps) Where did you see the 24 hours figure? (I posted off my application today with 20 on it, so I really hope its not 24!)

Reading about the Universal Credit and how that will change things when it replaces all the other stuff is a bit scary, but once I'm feeling stronger and more in control I should be more confident and able to throw myself into something more stable.

At the moment the thought of having to apply for a proper job fills me with fear, as I've always been self-employed, bringing in a small wage to top up H's and being the only main one to do any childcare/housework/cooking etc so I have no real work experience to speak of.

Are you on any other threads about your situation? My H was emotionally abusive so I'm dotted around on some of them, trying to get a confidence boost and lots of reassurance that its not my fault!!

OP posts:

purpleroses · 30/06/2012 22:22

It's 16 hours you need to do to claim tax credits. The 24 hour rule was only brought in for couples so you'll be fine

thekidsrule · 30/06/2012 23:03

yep 16 hrs now,wil change to 20hrs for LP when universal credit comes in

at the moment you will not get help with morgage if on wtc BUT you could get HB if you were renting (thats so bloody wrong imo)

you will get 25% discount on council tax and maybe some help with CT bill

good luck

RedHelenB · 01/07/2012 07:30

Just make sure you account for your time as they may well review your claim.

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 01/07/2012 09:38

Thanks. Yes, I think its wrong that I could get help with housing costs in rented, but as I want to keep my DCs in their family home, close to friends and school, I get no help at all. The mortgage is cheaper than renting too (its interest only), so it would cost less to help me out living here than it would to pay rent on a similar property.

Luckily H has rented a tiny place to keep his outgoings low so that he can give me enough to keep us here for now. If/when he stops being so generous things might change!

I think with self-employment there are so many little things you do that you don't even consider as 'working' that the hours stack up before you know it. I tend to think its only when I'm out delivering orders that I'm working, but there's all the emails/admin before that, sorting out the orders ready to deliver, talking to customers and suppliers, ordering stationary, working on the website, accounts, planning and designing adverts etc. I'll start keeping a log just to make sure that I am fulfilling the quota, thanks Red.

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Emmielu · 01/07/2012 15:35

When dd was 4 i worked while on IS. If i worked over 16 hours PAID work i had to send in my wage slip for that month & they deducted my IS for that month to balance with wages. Ring the jobcenter or book for an appointment for more info on the job seekers allowence because right now, although dd is 5, i wont be going on job seekers until october. DD will be nearly 6 by then. Just double check everything. Find out any extra things you may be entitled to & how many hours etc.

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 01/07/2012 15:49

Thanks Emmielu. I suppose I'm trying to avoid the Jobcentre as it looks so bleak there!

As I do technically have a job, albeit not a brilliant one, I feel like if I go there they'll start trying to talk me into some job I don't want or get me to start applying for positions with more hours - I'd be quite happy trundling along with my own business, trying to build it up into something proper if I can manage it.

I feel like I've been holding the fort, supporting H for all these years, putting my life on hold - if, now that he's gone, I still don't get any say in what I do, I may as well have left him years ago!

Will definitely check I'm getting what I should be though. I can't get IS as mine are all over 5 now, but tax credits seem to be ok (although a lot less £££ )

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fedup2012 · 01/07/2012 16:01

Are you sure you qualify as part time working even if you are self-employed? I'm interested to know as I want to become SE but can't afford the transition.

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 01/07/2012 16:05

Yes, it seems so. If they send back my application then I'll know differently!

They need to know your takings from the last tax year, so it may be difficult starting from scratch. You could call and ask them (or use the HMRC tax credits calculator)

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fedup2012 · 01/07/2012 16:10

Thanks, that's really helpful. Good luck to you, I'm sure things will work out.

PandaSpaniel · 01/07/2012 19:15

I am not on any other threads at the mo. It only happened a couple of days ago and I am still in shock even tho it was me that decided enough was enough.

I have two children, different dads DS1 age 7 and DS2 age 16 weeks.

Feel like such a failure :(

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 01/07/2012 22:57

Panda, its hard isn't it, when you're the one who's made the decision to split you feel as though you should be ok about it, but your heart is still breaking and you're still mourning the relationship you had and the future you'll never have.

Must be doubly hard with such a young DS too. You're not a failure, I presume your H just didn't step up to the task of being a husband and dad when you needed him most? Why not post on the relationships section to get some support and feedback from others in the same situation (there are sadly loads of us!)

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PandaSpaniel · 01/07/2012 23:01

Doesn't help when ex's brother and family think its all my fault. Sigh.

What threads are you on?

Original poster

DoingItForMyself · 02/07/2012 09:33

I regularly post on Midwife99's thread Now its my turn girls ABitWobbly's Living with a narcissist and the emotional abuse thread is really good if you've experienced any of that.

Chocoraisin's thread nothing can drag you down when you're not holding on is brilliant, she's really inspirational in how she has dealt with her H leaving her for an OW while she was pregnant with DS2 (he's due to be born by C.S. tomorrow!!)

Skyebluesapphire's H has also left her for someone else and initially she had real trouble detaching and trying not to keep trying to interact with him, but she's come a long way with the advice of MNers

My stbxh was very cold and detached, said cruel and hurtful things to/about me and the DCs, then sometimes denied ever saying them (gaslighting) and it was only after reading about emotional abuse on here that I recognised it for what it was and told him to leave.

He has since been really loving and attentive to the DCs and is bending over backwards to appear reasonable and I'm sure that his family believe this is all my fault too - they think he just has his 'little ways' and I should put up with them because 'he has supported me' as a SAHM (even though I have supported him working away from home, working shifts etc by being here whenever the DCs need me)

Whatever your situation, you'll find people on here with wise words to help you through the dark times and a virtual hand to hold when you're feeling really low. If you post then send me a link so I can join you x

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