Worried about the future when DD goes to uni....

[HedgeHogFoxBadger]

This wont be until sept 2021 so is a long way off. I have 3 DD aged 5, 13 and 17.
I had my renewal for tax credits come through and realized from next year they go down significantly. I work 21 hours a week.
I am now worrying once she goes to uni how I will afford to live, my maintenance will go down too due to her being at uni.
This is probably a pointless thread what with everything else that is going on at the moment but just wondered if anyone can reassure me.

can you up your hours now your other children will be in full time education?

Work more hours?

I have just lowered my hours by 6 each week

I work in a preschool and their max amount of hours is 27 per week.

I thought maintenance had to be paid until they left full time education?
Agree, you'll probably have to do more hours, it's not for over a year , so hopefully you'll have time to change.

Sorry , cross post about hours.

You just dropped your hours to 21 per week ? But why ? Can you pick up some more work ?

Because I got asked too and it gave me a whole day off per week. I work in a preschool and they are only open in the mornings so the maximum hours I could work there would be 27 per week.

You will need to look for a job with longer hours or a second job then.

21 hours term time only is not enough. I wonder if you could do a day TA supply on the day you don’t work. You could look into that now as the supply agencies are still open. Well, mine is.

Thank you savoy. I used to be a childminder before preschool, wondering if I need to start thinking about going back to that but I dont want to be self employed again and like working in a team

I do supply through an agency and I’m not self employed as I’ve been furloughed. Thought I was.....😳

What about offering after school care in a childminding capacity?

Offer childminding before and after school and school holidays?

You could also look at becoming a nanny during those times. I’m currently looking for someone ideally willing to do those hours. A lot of families are a a result of coronavirus (difficult to get au pairs just now).

My money drops in 2 years when ds is 16 ( I get dla for him. But unlikely to get pip). Then again 2 years following when he is 18. Maintenance is only further education. Not uni.

I plan to up my hours at both points. With a view of working full time again once dd is 12 and in secondary.

Would working in a nursery suit you better?

I know my ex won't contribute a penny once my kids leave secondary education, 2 years until my eldest leaves. I've already changed jobs to one which is only slightly higher salary but will go up over next 3 years. Ds already knows that once dad's contribution ends he's going to have to find a way to pay for his own luxuries - phone, spends etc. he also knows that he will be expected to contribute to the household kitty if he gets a job (depending on if he goes on to tertiary education).

OP 27 hours term time only (plus holiday) is the equivalent of 23 hours a week over the year. You could almost double these hours; your own children would not need you so much at home now, and could be more useful re cooking meals/laundry/housework to keep your jobs list manageable.

So strangle enough I could have my old extra hours back. Not sure if it’s worth me upping now or waiting until next year. My dd also attends a clinic every other Wednesday which I have to go to

Apply for new jobs summer/autumn when things go back. But as soon as you can increase your work hours at the nursery if they are open to that. Start putting a little bit more away each month. Even a pot of 1000 or so will be a big help with emergencies if your budget is tighter.

I would go back to the higher hours straight away, there is going to be so many people unemployed after this that the option to keep those hours met not be there very soon.