Separating from partner and returning to UK - need some advice please.

[Mummytotwopickles]

So, after living in Greece for 18 years I am now returning to the UK with my two young children after separating with my partner.

I intend to look a job immediately (since I have no savings and my partner is not in a situation to help financially).
I will be able to stay with my mum initially (hopefully until I get a job), but definitely not long term since she is not very well. In fact, it was Mum's illness that finally gave me the strength to make this huge decision.

So really I would like some advice from single mums about how they cope living and paying rent, bills and childcare on their own. I'm not sure if I would be entitled to any benefits to help with childcare or rent.

Can I really do this all on my own? Or am I being totally naive in dreaming that I could be happy and survive on my own?

Any advice would be great
Thanks ladies

Be careful not to fall into the tabloid trap of lumping all 'single mums' together. A single parent on a barrister's salary has a different experience to a single parent on minimum wage. However, if you don't have a job at the moment and/or your work experience is out of date because you've been overseas then you'll have to be prepared to dig deep. The up-side is that you have at least got accommodation... something that is not a given these days. But if you want to move out, be prepared to hit some obstacles because people with accommodation are not at the top of the waiting list. For what financial help you may be entitled to claim until you (and after) you find work there is a good website at www.turn2us.org.uk which has a benefits checker. Good luck

Hi I would look for a job where you can use your knowledge of Greece but diff as you do not give your job experince So it is :job, accom, schools/childcare My friend was beaten by her husband and rehoused cos she had kids but the accom was grotty and insecure. Perhaps make a journey here beforehand to look up any old contacts and research I agree it is harder to get housing help when you already have accom as not classed as homeless Life on Benefits can be hard and you can only persue Child Maintenance via courts as father outside uk so will need solicitor Look at HMRC website for calc of WTC , Child Tax credit etc but I think you have to give them income details Anyway WTC paid to you if work 16 plus

Thanks girls.
I teach English to Greek school children, but I'm only qualified to teach English as a foreign language so I'm not sure if that presents many opportunities in the UK. sigh
Before I left the UK, I was in retail manangement but the hours would surely be a childcare nightmare now

Hi, I also left abroad after 6yrs to return to the UK after splitting with my ex.

I had accomodation (rental of family members friends house) but I was entitled to help (rent/ benefits etc). There is a number to ring (job centre) and you can give all your info over the phone. Just be aware you can only do it once you are actually living here and it can take 4-5 weeks to start the payments.
I took a p/t job in a shop and started a college course (which due to financial circs was free) and then got a job as an LSA, so school hours. I would imagine that this would work well for you and with your experience you'd be very employable.
I am doing my OU degree to do my teacher training, but if you all ready have a degree you could just do your teacher training if thats what you want to do. Look up GTP. (grad teacher training)

You can do it, I warn you its very sad packing your life up into a few bags, but for me the feeling of freedom and making a life for myself as well as DS over ruled all that.

Feel free to ask anything you like. I'll try to help. Good luck.

EFL has, for more permanant work, moved into the UNI/higher ed sector.you can find these on various sites.The no of students going to private lang schools has fallen so apart from possibly London it may be seasonal However local FE colleges do seem to have part-time work My ex TEFl single Mum friend found work in a travel firm but near London and she rents privately She was in Italy for a long time. If you have degree i would retrain : friend did Probation service and earns well but grotty work

dependin where your mum lives you could think about the possibility of one to one enlish lessons, people will pay for that these days, also in some areas childrens centres, councils and learn direct centres run enlish courses,

Having been out of the country for 18 years, you may not qualify for benefits. You will have to pass a test and convince them that you have not returned just to claim state help.

On the other side of the coin, I assume you have permission to remove the children from the country (father can apply to court etc) and that you have sound plans in place for access. Can you afford the travel to and from as a court will insist you bear the brunt of it as you moved.

We're in the South East and the local college employs TEFL teachers. There is also quite a lot of work during the summer and holidays with language students. A lot of my friends have trained in TEFL, and do it for a few years as it seems quite compatible with kids. (The pay per hour is not bad.)