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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

Would it be worth me working ??

25 replies

nutcracker · 14/05/2006 08:56

I need to get some sort of life before I go mad and was wondering if it would be worth me working at the moment.

I have 3 kids one of whom is still nursery age. I don't drive and the only job experiance I have is cleaning hotel rooms and shelf stacking so hardley large saleries invovled.

Would it be worth it or is it best to get some more training in something under my belt and find a job when Ds starts school (sept 07) ???

OP posts:

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Freckle · 14/05/2006 08:59

Have you tried Learn Direct? I'm not sure how much they cost or if you get a discount if you're on benefits, but it might be worth learning with them to keep your mind active now and to enable you to get a better job when ds starts school.

Original poster

nutcracker · 14/05/2006 09:03

I did look at Leran Direct but tbh I didn't fancy any of the courses although I know doing a computer one would help really.

I even miss working at Wilkos right now , god i mst be really bored and fed up

OP posts:

HappyMumof2 · 14/05/2006 10:58

I'm in the same situation nc. I've been childminding for the past 6 months, as a lone parent you are allowed to keep £60 before it effects your entitlement to IS so you would definately be better off if you looked into doing that - it's just if you can bear it! lol

I think, from what I can work out, you are better off working, as long as you stick to around 16 hrs a week as then you get maximum tax credits.

When dd goes all day (next year some time) I'm planning on doing a computer course and then hopefully getting something clerical with part time hours (in a school would be ideal!) and probably continuing with my childminding too - not quite sure yet.

Have a look on Jobcentre plus and see what's around in your area.

I agree you are probably not much better off working until your ds goes full time, although you would get most of your childcare costs covered by WFTC it's just how you feel about paying a childminder etc.

Caligula · 14/05/2006 11:11

You could phone one of these DWP jobs advisors who do a special plan for lone parents wanting to return to the workplace. They might even help you find training courses suitable for you. I know that sounds like a govt propaganda leaflets, but really some of them are good - it's luck whether you get a crap or a good advisor. Worth enquiring, anyway.

fairyfly · 14/05/2006 11:38

Can you really earn 60 pounds and not have it taken off your benefits?

Caligula · 14/05/2006 11:42

£60 a month maybe?

Gillian76 · 14/05/2006 11:45

Must be £60 a week. A girl I work with is in a similar situation.

fairyfly · 14/05/2006 11:48

Cant be £60 pounds a week, surely.

Nutcarcake, have you thought about training for something that gets you straight into the work force. Maybe something in Beauty therapy. Some of the courses are quite short and you can carry on going back to learn new skills.

Or how about a job where you can work up the ladder?

Gillian76 · 14/05/2006 11:50

I don't know the figures but she works 16 hours a week and won't do over that cos it affects her benefits.

I think a course would be a good idea :)

Caligula · 14/05/2006 11:51

I think it depends how much you earn whether it affects your benefits and whether she's talking about IS, HB, Council Tax Benefit or tax credits.

fairyfly · 14/05/2006 11:56

I think.........

You can earn up to 16 hours a week but they take it off your income support and you don't have to pay tax. They keep up to £1000 pounds of your earnings then if you go above 16 hours they give it you as a back to work bonus.

Freckle · 14/05/2006 13:19

Have you looked at New Deal for Lone Parents? This is specifically designed for people in your situation. One thing you have to think about though is what you will do with the children during school holidays. It's all very well getting a job which fits in with school hours during term time, but childcare during holidays, Baker days, etc., could be a problem.

Original poster

nutcracker · 14/05/2006 13:33

It's funny you should mention beauty therapy FF cos me and my mum were talking about it earlier and an NVQ in it is only 18 weeks long.

I do worry what i'd do in the hols with the kids though.

Childminding was mentioned to me at my lone parent interview but tbh i'd rather boil my own head

Think i have to have another lone parent interview soon so I can ask for more details of stuff then i spose.

OP posts:

singledadofthree · 14/05/2006 16:08

if you're thinking of working part time cash in hand you can only earn £20 a week. if you get more it is taken off IS if you get it - pound for pound. you need proof too as they do tend to pester a bit and assume you will fiddle more.
situations vary but new deal only seems to work if you rent, i tried it with mortgage and was always worse off.

singledadofthree · 14/05/2006 16:11

and you need a job that gives time off in school hols or juggle child minder. schools seem to run on Teaching Assistants these days who tend to be local parents - but you'd have to really like kids for that :o

HappyMumof2 · 14/05/2006 16:16

Yes, it's £60 a week for lone parent childminders.

Normally (any other job) it's £20 a week but childminders benefit from different rules so that two thirds of our earnings are treated as expenses - so only £20 is counted as income. And as a lone parent there is a £20 disregard, so you can earn up to £60 a week without if effecting your IS.

I am on IS and earning £60 does not effect my IS at all. If I earn over, then obviously they would take some of my IS off me.

HTH.

singledadofthree · 14/05/2006 16:18

wow - i'm impressed and stand corrected, pity i dont like kids that much

nightowl · 18/05/2006 16:05

hi nutcracker. you could get on one of these courses ive taken. its completely free and you can still go there even if you work (providing the times dont clash obviously). mines held at a local school, in a seperate building to the kids thankfully!) they have a nursery there too. ive been going for over a year now and have gotten 5 qualifications. i only have to do 3 hours a week. ask your lone parent advisor, they should have a list.

singledadofthree · 19/05/2006 00:15

Happymumof2
have just realised from what you said that the government are encouraging 'lone parents' to look after, therefore share in the upbringing of other peoples children. aren't we supposed to be the dysfunctionals that sponge off the state and raise underachieving kids?
wow - i'm impressed - they obviously think otherwise, although only quietly :o

nightowl · 19/05/2006 19:15

maybe they think we need more practice?

singledadofthree · 19/05/2006 21:03

Well i guess practice does make perfect, but still - are they taking the mick or what? maybe i should get my arse in gear and do a 'brady bunch' as i am so perfect :o

HappyMumof2 · 19/05/2006 21:20

it is strange though, isn't it? that childminding is the only job you can do in order to earn anything remotely worth keeping without losing your benefits?

They are meant to be encouraging more people to work but when they only allow you to earn £20 (in any job) before they start taking money off you, it doesn't seem that way.......

singledadofthree · 20/05/2006 00:02

am struggling to make sense of it after all the bad press of late regarding single parents. can only think that we - well you as i'm not up for childminding - are seen as cut price childminders for those who maybe cannot afford full price mainstream childcare. the £60 limit means theres no point trying to charge more, but acts as a good enough incentive and keeps everyone happy - not exactly a get rich quick scheme tho. speaking of which, what are you studying nightowl? and does it have to be relevant to future employment? i tried a while ago and was refused as it was only for my own interest.

nightowl · 20/05/2006 13:14

its just computers singledad, but useful because ive always worked in admin (not very glam i know, but i like it). i dont understand why they refused you? i could do any of the courses the centre offer for free, first aid, childcare (no thanks), even crafting and thats hardly relevant.

singledadofthree · 21/05/2006 00:35

nightowl
i have looked at local secondary school that does various courses and used to beable to do any for around £3 a term.
i asked at job centre about doing OU degree course in history/archaeology but was told it wouldnt be paid as i wasnt intending to pursue a career in the subject. they reckoned that it was too expensive just as a hobby for me, couldnt argue really, was just having a hard time trying to get work/benefits balanced and wanted a distraction for a while. odd thing now is i probably could see it as a career as have done voluntary work in that field and found it really interesting altho not a lot of use.
as for admin - groan - do a bit of treasury work and find it a real drag - not at all glam, but useful - i am currently a gardener in real life

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