Benefits

[Emily3030]

Not sure if this is in the right forum but...

As a lone parent I've worked part time (I want to take and pick up my child from school) in a crappy minimum pay job for nearly 2 years now. I am always in debt and have huge difficulty paying my rent and other bills. I'm always selling things I'd rather not on Ebay just to get by. I do get tax credits but it works out I was still better off when I was on income support, by £12 per week.

This morning I got a visit from my landlord serving a notice on me. I owe money that I simply don't have and never will do. Can I leave my job to go back on income support? Will I still get them if I leave voluntarily?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

do you not got housing and council tax benefit. From what you have said you dont and working part time on a low income you hould be entitled to them even if it isnt your full rent and Council Tax.

I left my previous employment of 10 hours p/w and a tiny amount of income support to go fully onto income support. They'll want to know how much you earned before yu left so they dont over pay you. HTH

make an appointment with the lone parent advisor at your local jobcentre. they are brilliant and have a computer programme that can work out what the best scenario for you workwise/financially is... and also advise on crisis loans, ensure you are receiving all you should, etc.

Thanks for that. I think I'll have to make an appointment to see someone. I do get help with council tax and the rent but I still pay half which although doesn't sound much is a lot out of my wages. Basically all my wages goes on rent and council tax then I live on the tax credits, and pay for other things out of that too. It just seems so pointless working.

Thanks again.

The other thing was, I don't have any child care for the summer holidays, so I was thinking of leaving anyway. Can DWP's insist I use a childminder? My daughter has never had one before and would really hate it.

i think you can leave you know. It's different when you have a child. You have givien it a really good go, and it just highlights that you have been there 2 yrs but are struggling.

Do you owe an awful lot? I am worried about yuo losing your home.

PLEASE see a lone parent advisor at your job centre!

Your story is all too common because work doesn't pay for a great many people, so don't feel too badly about that.

Also if you need to see a housing officer at the council about your housing situation as you should be assessed many points for having been served notice.

Definitely see your lone parent advisor and make sure you are getting everything you should. Also see if you'd be better off working less hours (I know that sounds crazy but I dropped my hours by 2 hours a week and am better off because i actually get more WTC, don't pay tax on that extra WTC and don't get my WTC reduced by £1500 because i earn too much.) I'm now about £80 a month better off working less hours than i was last year!? And I only work 18 hours now

As to the summer. You will get help with childcare costs too and your housing benefit and council tax benefit shouldn't take the childcare element into account when working out your entitlement. You don't have to use a child minder. My son goes to a holiday club where they do lots of activities such as archery, wall climbing, swimming etc. So he's having a holiday even if i'm not there.

I usually work part time but in the hols I double up my hours and have a day off in lieu. That way my childcare costs are lower and i get more time at home. Is your work flexible with your hours like that at all?

Are you getting any maintenance for your child? If so you can keep it all on WTC, if you go back on benefits you don't.

Have you looked for another job that might be more inspiring for you? Something at your child's school would fit in with hols and school hours for example. Also if you only work school terms you still can claim WTC & CTC based on the number of hours you do during those weeks and not average it out over the whole year.

Gilly

Thanks for your replies, I've been so worried about it all day. I don't really want to leave, the only thing I dislike about my job is the pay, I meet lots of nice people every day and actually quite enjoy it. I even have my own regular customers who seek me out. (I work in a supermarket!)

I don't get any maintenance for my daughter, so that wouldn't make a difference. I've decided to have a chat with someone about it tomorrow, maybe they'll let me come back in September. Or possibly look for a term time job, that'd be fantastic!

I don't think it'll go to court, I was in shock when she called round and wasn't in the right state of mind to talk about it, I'm going to try and pay my arrears off weekly and that should stop further legal action.

I've never heard of holiday clubs, thanks Gilly, I'll look into it.

Hi. Have a look at www.entitledto.com
It helped me when I was struggling and didn't know what I could claim. Hope it helps.

I am a lone parent adviser.

There is no problem with leaving a job voluntarily if you are going to be claiming IS as a lone parent (dependent child under 16 until November 08, under 12 from then, under 10 one year later, under 7 the year after that).

If you are better off on IS, then you should claim it.

Good luck

my business failed recently so I signed on, I get around £350 per week which includes rent and other benefits. I have just started a 12 hour a week job in tescos and did not loose a penny in benefits meaning I get an extra £74+ per week on top. now I don't have nursery fees and other expenses, I am far better off now than I have been for years and as my ex will finish studying soon, the job he has been offered will net me around £800 per month in child maintainance. I know I will loose some benefits to counter the CM, but I am looking forward to this, as I won't have to work in tescos no more although when my son starts school in september I will be have little to do all day so I will probably continue to work to get out and meet people otherwise I would go stir crazy sitting at home.