Lone parent starting work full time

[MissTify]

Hi, I am single mum to a two year old. I'm currently on benefits and receiving income support, housing benefit, child tax credits, child benefit and child maintenance from my ex. I have been offered a full time job next week for £25,000 per annum. I really want to take it, but I have no idea on how this will affect my benefits and whether I will be better off taking this full-time job, than I am on benefits. I would need to put my daughter into nursery for five full days per week at £39 per day, so I would be paying £195 per week nursery costs. I need to let the company who have offered me the job, know tomorrow if I accept. I'd really appreciate it if anyone could tell me who I need to contact to find out whether I would be financially better off than I am now taking this job. Thank you.

www.onefamily.com/hub/finance/tax-credits-and-benefits-calculator/ - use this to find out. Congrats on the job offer, by the way.

Long term you are almost certainly better off taking the job, you may still get some of your benefits- and it will reduce your reliance on other people (government change policies on benefits, ex stops paying maintenance etc). I'm not saying it won't be hard, but you may be entitled to some free hours of childcare, especially after DC turns 3.

Congratulations on the job offer! Will your commute to/from work & nursery be very expensive and something to factor in? I can't advise too much on benefits/tax credits but I definitely think you will be in a better position for taking the job and that is a pretty decent starting salary.

I think there is childcare vouchers or something. Speak to your new employer, probably the HR department.
Congrats btw

Thank you all for your advice. I haven't received a formal offer yet outlining the benefits. I know they desperately want me to start next Monday but I really want to know what the benefits are before I accept, importantly childcare vouchers. Is there also a single point of contact whom I can call to find out about all the benefits I might receive if starting work full time so I can work out if I would receive more income than what I currently receive? Thank you.

It will be hard there's no denying that. I personally would take the job and if it's just not working out then leave; what have you got to lose.

Your maintenance won't stop and you may still be entities to tax credits.
As a single parent your two year old is already entitled to funded hours at nursery so that will take some of the cost away as well xx