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Original poster

Change in benefits for Lone Parents

225 replies

MsPontipine · 04/03/2008 14:09

I went to my annual LP advisor meeting at the JobCentre today - was rather stunned by the proposed but very likely changes.

It was a bit much to take in but basically by 2010 I think lone parents with youngest child 12 or older will no longer be able to claim Income Support on LP grounds and will be required to sign on and claim Jobseekers Allowance and look for work.

Another couple of years and that age will be reduced to 7.

There are various incentives, grants etc but that appears to be the long and short of it.

I was pretty stunned - mostly I think because this is the first I've heard of this. I am not an avid news watcher but I'm not a complete ostrich.

Food for thought. . . . . .

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nappyaddict · 23/03/2008 13:36

I suppose you have to remember some people don't want to put their kids in holiday clubs either - they want to actually spend time with them! in which case i retract my first statement and think 7 is unreasonable but 12 is reasonable.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 13:38

I agree that 12 is perfectly reasonable, but don't agree with 7 either.

I had my kids, to be their mum, not leave the job to a before/after school club.

LBA · 23/03/2008 13:46

Is this still going on?

We cant win can we? You think its so easy to find a job and people have tried to explain to you why it is difficult alfiesbabe. That makes them whingy and whiny. Well we are entitled to a point of view.

For someone with such a keen interest in the Lone Parents boards im surprised you havent noted the struggles a few regular posters have had trying to get back to work. But you only see what you want to see.

Force them back into dead end jobs where they'll pay hardly any tax anyway, that's going to contribute to society is it? As for self esteem, well maybe Lone Parents would have a lot more self esteem if we didn't have to keep listening to this all the time. Do you have any idea what its like to hear this day in day out when you're trying your best already?

Childcare is not readily available here (obviously I cant speak for other areas) jobs are few and far between. Why dont you have a look on the jobcentre website and see how many 9-3 jobs there are, of course, if you cant get childcare and cant drive, you're looking for a job 9.30 until 2.30 at the very most, and if you can find such a job it could well be at the minimum wage.

and yes, to get help with childcare, the provider has to be ofsted registered. Advertise in the paper for someone to take my kids after school, with no checks and no ofsted registration Xenia? You must be kidding.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 13:51

Totally agree LBA. It is hard enough being a lone parent as it is, without people complaining left right and centre that we aren't trying hard enough.

I check the job centre website every single day. If i am lucky, there might be 1 or 2 new jobs added each day, and then roughly once every few weeks, I will find one that I can actually apply for, that does state MUST BE FELXIBLE.

I went into a card shop not long ago, as they had an ad in the woindow for part time sales assistant. I asked for a form, and the lady asked me if I could do any hours and any days, plus be able to swap shifts or cover shifts at short notice. I said no, and she said well there is no point in you applying then, as I have over 200 forms sat on my desk from people who can only do certain hours/days, and i need someone 100% flexible.

Judy1234 · 23/03/2008 13:58

Depends where you live too. In some areas you can knock on doors,offer to look after children, do ironing, clean windows and people have more than enough spare money to pay for that - within M25 etc. Go to some very poor areas and people can't afford anything and jobs are harder to come by even cleaning jobs.

I am afraid any single parent supported by the state who says I don't quite fancy my child being in an after school club so I'll stay at home and not work should be kicked back into work by the government in short order. Many of us full time working parents have had to put up with all sorts of not quite right or difficult situations - even middle class privileged me had a year when I often worked to 3am, did the 3am breastfeed of the twins, slept until 6am and hten did 2 hours work before they woke at 8am. It's hard work that gets a lot of people on in life.

On the au pair issue what most working parents who have them do if the au pair takes the children to school and collects them and that's the 5 hours a day. That costs you about say £60 a week in her wages (and you feed her too) Most 9 - 5 jobs at minimum wage would pay you £175 a week so even on the minimum wage it's workable. I have never had the state pay for any of my child care and I don't know if the state will pay but if it's in a job with possibility of promotion it's surely worth trying.

Also people in some cases need to move to get work. In some areas there are just no jobs. However on the whole we have much fuller employment than we used to have in the UK. It's a fairly bouyant jobs market.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:00

Cos moving to find work, as a single parent would be easy peasy wouldn't it

alfiesbabe · 23/03/2008 14:08

LOl AntiFlounce , I can assure you I'm not - I have a happy relationship and a great career, both of which I have worked hard to achieve. I'm just amazed at some of the helpless woe is me attitudes expressed on here.

Judy1234 · 23/03/2008 14:09

No, it's very hard. I don't say any of it is easy. It's hard to afford the fares for a start. People who move to work like a lot of Estonians and many other people from abroad have had to leave their children with their own mother and that must be a big wrench but I does feel very unfair for many full time working single mothers and full time mothers who live with a partner that they have to do things that are pretty tricky, work very long hours, come home to do all the house stuff too, accept not ideal child care, juggle etc, get nothing like enough sleep even when others we're working so hard to support in effect do nothing and have to date had an automatic right to their benefits. Even this required to show you're making some token attempt to work is absoultely pathetic. They need compulsory workfare in return for any benefits but with childcare provided.

alfiesbabe · 23/03/2008 14:09

Oh cracker that takes the biscuit.
'I had my kids, to be their mum, not leave the job to a before/after school club.'
So those of us who use childcare stop being mums do we? Or dads? Hilarious

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:09

I can barely say this xenia...you think that I should employ someone who knocked on my door and offered, to mind my children? You cannot be serious.

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:12

alfiesbabe. Why wont you answer my question?

You know, the one I asked you yesterday?

alfiesbabe · 23/03/2008 14:14

I've moved to get jobs before. As Xenia says, it's not easy, but so what? I also agree with Xenia that many full time workers with partners have to compromise, put up with difficult situations for the sake of long term gain, so why shouldnt others? I didnt particularly enjoy breastfeeding a 3 month old, expressing for the CM, then doing a full days teaching. But if I'd sat at home whinging then I probably wouldnt have a career today. But of course it's difficult to say these things because I'll be accused of being . Funny old world!

alfiesbabe · 23/03/2008 14:14

LBA, I CBA any more!!

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:19

You moved alfiesbabe? Or you and your partner moved? With or without children?

A lot (not all) Lone Parents live in council accommodation/housing association. You cant just "move". You cant afford a mortgage, you are not allowed to move out of your local borough, they will not offer you a property anywhere else.

How does one move?

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:22

Alfiesbabe you don't have a fucking clue, so shut the hell up.

HappyMummyOfOne · 23/03/2008 14:23

Oh cracker that takes the biscuit.
'I had my kids, to be their mum, not leave the job to a before/after school club.'
So those of us who use childcare stop being mums do we? Or dads? Hilarious

Just because people use childcare it doesnt mean they dont love or care for their children.

Refusing to use childcare is not a good enough reason to support yourself or your family.

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:27

Nutty...calm, calm.

C'mon, i'll do some yoga with you

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:27

I don't want my kids at before and after school club every day, I happen to think that their school day is long enough and I should have the option of wether I send them or not.

When I was with my ex, I worked evenings, so avoiding the need for any chldcare, but obviously I cannot do that now.

I'm sorry but alot of you, haven't ever been single parents and so do not have a clue what the hell you are talking about. I hope for your sake and your childrens that you never are, because it is the shittiest situation I have ever been in in my whole life.

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:30

Nutty, dont get upset

If anyone took the time, they would know its not so easy.

nappyaddict · 23/03/2008 14:34

nutty - are their any night childminders in the area? i work evenings and have had to use them when family haven't been able to have him.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:34

It's ok, i'm not upset just angry that people can sit in judgement without having a clue what it is actually like.

I sit here for hours some days looking for a job, and have applied for god knows how many, but because I am not prepared to move, or stick my kids in childcare 24/7 , then I am not trying hard enough.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:36

Don't know tbh nappy, as I've not looked into night time childcare.

My mum would always have them for me, but she works shifts herself, so unfortunatly can't garuntee she'd be available.

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:37

We should be used to this by now nutty!!

I wish my skin was thicker (to suit the rest of me)

LBA · 23/03/2008 14:42

You live in K dont you nappyaddict? How'd you find a night childminder?

KerryMum · 23/03/2008 14:48

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