So if I work 16 hours a week....

[amireallythatsad]

Then I will get child tax credit, working tax credit and any maintenance my ex pays wil be disregarded??????

Because I'm looking at p/t jobs to fit around my DD.

I'm not sure if I will get much if any IS as ex-h is paying some maintenance towards DD and contribution towards mortgage. So money very very very very very tight.

But on a positive front I'm looking to retrain, or try and get a p/t job. Is it worth it (apart from the fact I so desperately don't want to feel completely useless at the moment....)

Hi amireallythatsad,

Go for it with the job thing. Defo worth it financially and will make you feel loads better.

I work 16 hours and get child tax/working tax credits aswell as 80% of my childcare costs payed for.

Might be worth looking into something where you could train on the job if money is tight that way you'd still get your tax creds and childcare.

Cool. Thx for info.

Also, when my DD goes to nursery in Sep (she'll be 3), I know I will get the grant, but will I get extra help towards her childcare - because of working she may have to stay in nursery longer then just the AM session?

Hope that makes sense?

Yeah, you'll get upto 80% towards what you have to pay. (dependant on income)

What sort of thing are you thinking of doing jobwise?

Well I was trained in Secretarial/PA but I wanted to retrain in childcare - Montessori teaching or Nursery Teacher.

Trying to get my head around it all and its driving me nuts - maybe it's knowing I've got lots to sort out and I feel like I'm going under!!!

I do learning support in a primary school (speech and language etc). Its a great job and the holidays are such a bonus. The pay is terrible but the tax credits bump it right up and makes it financially worth while.

Sound like your doing a great job of sorting stuff out, its not easy but it gets easier with time.
Are you recently seperated?
Have you been to the job centre? Apparently they have Lone parent advisors who can advise on jobs, training, benefits etc.Might be worth a shot. I know I always feel better if I'm being pro-active

Hiya
How did you find your job? Ideally nursery, TA or something along those lines would be ideal, because of the holidays and I am feeling more encouraged knowing that I can get help and support with childcare.

I do feel sad about leaving DD in childcare but needs must and I want to show her that even though life can offer some knocks, it can get better....

Yep, been seperated over 1 month now. I've been to the jobcentre and registered for income support etc but I feel I need to be doing something as well.

I have the feeling this could really be the making of me - in that I will truly be doing something positive for me, rather than getting depressed about how awful the situ is.

check out

www.entitledto.com

How much maintenance do you get? Disregard i s £20 on Income support.

The contribution to mortgage should be disregarded for I.S purposes IF he pays it direct to lender.

If you do find a job the lone parent advisor should be about to do you a better off calculation.

Hello def is worth it on financial side, I went back to work 17.5hrs a wk and was really surprised at how much support you can get! Also does marvels for your sense of independence, self esteem etc. My dd has just turned 3 and Iv increased my hrs to do 3 full days a wk. It is hard wk but worth it for the extra money and dd is thriving at nursery.

You go girl! {grin]

Don't think you need any qualifications to be a TA and know the school I work in will pay for nvq's etc.
Might be worth just phoning a local school and offering to do some voulantary work as a way of getting your foot in the door. (Hearing readers, school trips etc)
Local papers usually advertise TA jobs as do the local authority websites.
I'm sure your DD will be very proud of you and you're clearly a great mummy.

voluntary!!! sorry.

Thanks ladies.

I've spent about an hour this evening trawling the next re TA jobs. I'm going to phone the local council tomorrow to have a chat about ta vacancies (they have a local service to help families), going to call the jobcentre and have a chat to my lone parent advisor, phone the nursery and get DD down for a place.......

I was really worried about finding the extra funding for childcare but am relieved to know that if I am working more than 16hours a week that I'll still get the grant and some help for the additional costs....phew.

Well I have been and still am in a mire of depression, but slowly trying to get out of it

You ladies sound like you are doing really well. I'm hoping my self esteem will get a huge boost and I won't feel so helpless

I'm just happy to know I can do something to help my situation.

Hi amireallythatsad,
How did it go today?

hi there

totally totally rubbish day today

Found out my IS claim hasn't been processed yet, got a load of bills coming out tomorrow and no money Asked if my x-h could put some money in the account to cover the bills until the IS comes in, they said could be seen as income. So no. Then after much to-ing and fro-ing found out that ex-h can pay the mortgage co directly for 13 weeks until I can claim help with the mortgage. Hopefully. Otherwise mortgage co said they would repossess if I can't make payments.

Very strange day with x as I have been shouting accusations at him - well he was the one who didnt want to work on it, and then when we split up was saying about sorting out benefits because he couldn't afford to carry on paying. Then when he finds out that the flat could be repossessed and I wouldn't be getting money falling from the skies (or from the government for that matter) he was trying to swoop in and say he would pay for everything once again and he would have to make do (harrump, poor him), as he didn't want the flat to get taken away or for our DD to be homeless (Nice. Not me though). Then he's been all nice becuase I've been on the sofa ill all day and made DD's dinner and my dinner (he was round to take DD out today). I hate the way he makes me feel. I told him I would be hard up once this happens but he didn't believe me. I hate the way he doesn't like it if I get mad and angry at him for causing this - not the marital problems, but sticking it out and working on it.

All the more impetus to get a job. I do not want to be reliant on this!

So so stressful. Been in tears for most of today, plus I'm getting a nasty cold so feel very run down.

Anyway I did phone the local council and jobcentre, and I'm actively looking for a job. In fact anything at the moment which is over 16 hours a week, so that I can get earning.

Tough day

Poor you. Sounds like you've has a crap day.
If your looking to get a job asap, tell DH to pay the mortgage short-term if he'll agree or ask mortgage company if you could take a payment holiday.
As soon as your earning, the financial pressure will ease massively.
Have you thought about registering with an agency?
The least your Dh can do is see you right for the immediate future, it was his decision to seperate after all.
Do you have family/friends close by who are supportive?
Hope you feel better soon, a cold on top of everything else is not what you need.

Have you asked Income Support for an emergency payment? They need to consider one if you ask for one.

Do you know what help you will get with mortgage? Its only the interest based on a standard rate of 6.08% (I think thats the current rate). Therefore you would need to pay capital part of it. Can ex husband continue to pay that part direct to lender?

Do not get him to put money into account. It will be classed as maintenance.

Hello

Well ex-h has paid money directly to the lender. He will pay them directly for the next couple of months.

He was going to pay maintenance and mortgage into my account but now only pays maintenance and I've let IS know that he will pay the mortgage direct.

I'm going to call my parents today and see if they can help.

I'm so fed up. I haven't got enough to cover the bills. So I'm gonna have a car boot or sell a load of stuff on ebay.

Anyway onwards and upwards??????

Seriously call up I.S and request an emergency pymt. Make sure you actually use that term. You will be amazed at how quick it gets doen. It that fails apply for a crisis loan from Social Fund, again that will bump your I.S claim up the queue.

Can I ask you again how much maintenance hes going to pay? Then I can tell you if above worth it.

He's going to pay £200 per month - so i doubt I will get much at all. But the bills are quite high still

hi i am in more or less the same situation as you so i understand how you're feeling ((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))i would also second asking for emergency payment to cover the bills, crisis loans are taking a while atm i believe.

you are right about the maintenance side of things, only £20 is discounted - x supposedly pays the same as you get, if things go awry, it's not nice to think of but once you start dating again (and you may) then he may well change the rules again to suit him. (this is what x did). you may then need to consider an attachment of earnings, residency orders, etc but solicitors (legal aid may be applicable for you especially on IS as i get that) or if not, then ask citizens advice bureau.

you will be fine sweetheart, you're right it will be the making of you - someone once told me (not x, he ain't that clever )"you don't have to run fast, just keep walking". things will get sticky from time to time but keep going and sooner or later you will get there

New I.S rate from April for Lone Parent 18yrs + is £64.50.

Maintenance of £20 disregarded

£200 x 12 divide by 52 equals £46.15 Therefore you should receive £38.15

That is without your help for mortagage interest after 13wks,

Ok so that makes more sense.
Is it just me or does anyone else find sorting this all out ridiculously confusing and quite difficult to fathom?

Thank you for your help.

Hopefully the IS have processed my payment now.

amireallysad When I spilt up with exDP I found it hard. Luckily I work in benefits so know all there is to know, but always remember how difficult it is for people who dont. May be worthwhile ringing and asking for leaflet IS8 to be sent to you (make sure they send the new edition 01/09 not the old leaflet. Gives you loads of info on mortgage help.

Any more questions just ask.

Thanks Ona - it is a minefield.

I find it hard to feel dependent upon benefits which is why I'm trying to find work asap...

Will I still be able to qualify for help with mortgage even though ex is paying directly at the moment? If he didn't and I couldn't make the payments for 13 weeks then the mortgage co said they would repossess!

i left h last year and now on is, i have been really lucky to get a council flat and benefits payed, if i went back to work 16 hrs a week would i be worse off? i would love to retrain too and their is a course starting in september so may give it a go

amireallythat He is paying unmet mortgage costs at the mo so you should be ok. After 13wks best he just pays the capital element. Always make sure it is direct to lender.

mehdismummy best you speak to a loneparent advisor at the jobcentre. They can help you by doing a "better off calculation" if you have a job/hourly rate in mind. However if retraining is something you would love to do then may be better doing that so you can persue a career. How old are your DCs and how long is course?