would like to give up work and become a SAHM- how can i find out what monies i'm entitled to?

[kittyandthefontanelles]

I'm afraid I'm clueless and in need of advice. It seems to be very confusing. How can I find out what state help I might be entitled to? Currently get child benefit. Thanks in advance.

Just ansrin' the question, dude.

Children need looking after, and the person who is looking after them needs an income. Hardly rocket science, is it?

I get my income from my JOB... does that mean I don't look after my children?

Who is looking after them when you are at work? And what sort of income does that person get?

Bearing in mind that plenty of jobs do not cover the cost of childcare, what is your solution to who looks after the children, AkhalTeke? That only the rich should breed?

My job doesn't cover the cost of childcare. But as a single parent the government pay me a fortune in tax credits to make sure I don't go near my DC's for a few hours a day . Heaven knows what damage a single SAHM could do raising their own children.

If your partner earns £17k you'll qualify for a (very) little bit of working tax credit and a little bit of child tax credit.

Cut off for CTC with one child is c£24k
Cut off for WTC with one child is £18k

If you earn substantially more than your partner it might be worth looking to see if you'd be much better off with him being the SAHP, or you both working part time on opposing days if that was a possibility.

Home jobshare not an option I'm afraid, suzi and I need to be at home because we are planning another soon. But thanks for your advice.

You are planning another child, yet are struggling already?
Why would you have another child?

Not struggling at all yet tannhauser as I haven't even given up work yet. If you read the thread you'll see I'm only considering it at the moment. Why do I want another child....? Many reasons that I don't really see is your business, with respect.

well said miaboo

My job -is-- was looking after children at home, and there is no way im putting her into childcare while i look after someone else's children in their home.

Im proud to be a SAHM (and very VERY lucky that my partners income can allow that..... ) yes we have significantly less income than when i was working full time, buts its a choice we have made, it is right for our family, and thats all that matters to me

I worked full time week in week out (with 6 weeks off when i relocated from 1 end of the country to the other) from the week i graduated until i was signed off with HG

I agree miaboo my husband is not on a fantastic wage. If I'd gone back to work I would have been getting tax credits off the government to pay for the bulk of my childcare. I'm probably actually receiving less help off the state by getting tax credits while I'm a stay at home mum, therefore costing less even once you take into account my tax I'd be paying.

Why shouldn't I spend a few years raising my family when I have worked full time for around 12 years (since I left education) if it's better for my family, AND costing the state far less?

OP do whatever is best for your family, we would be struggling either way so why have a family and never see them unless there's a good reason to!

Exactly, Rock chick. That's what it keeps coming round to doesn't it? I want to bring my children up to school age at home with me. Then I'll return to work. Can't see any harm with that and my husband is still a 'taxpayer'.

IMO if you're claiming tax credits you are struggling, and therefore you can not afford to have another child.
I would love to have more children, and id love to stay at home with the ones I already have, but I cannot afford to do so.

tannhauser what you mean is that you choose not to be able to afford it. Me and DH own our own home, however we have a small apartment. We would love somewhere bigger, but chose to stay here and have me stay at home. We chose to only have one car. If you choose a lifestyle that means you can't afford any more children that is up to you.

Tax credits are there to help people so that they are able to make those choices, and as both my husband and myself until recently were in low pai jobs (despite working insanely hard all the time, the industry just isn't well paid) we would have needed state help, or for the system to change so that companies pay a wage whereby families can manage without relying on grandparents to mind their children while they work! As that would have been the only way I could have justified going back to work, however my family still all work so I didn't have that luxory. If only the rich where to procreate, the economy would end up far worse off over the next few generations than it will do by offering to supplement people's low incomes with tax credits!

I'm not going to get into the debate about SAHM getting money to be at home, working mums leaving their kids in childcare etc etc (strong feelings on it all, but can't be bothered to engage at the moment).

But one question - Kitty how old is your baby? The only reason I ask is that when they are very little, it can seem terrible to even think about leaving them with anyone else, especially for a long period (and 10 hours a day is a long period). But your feelings may well change, and you might find that work gives you something valuable in your life - beyond money - too. It might well not, depends on your job etc etc. I say this as someone who eight months ago really really didn't want to go back to the office ever again, but is really enjoying being back at work now.

So do your research into your options, but don't necessarily commit now if you've still got some months left to consider what is best for your family.

Do some of you young'uns actually know that only about 40 years ago, employers were legally allowed to pay men much more than women for the same job on the grounds that men's wages were for supporting their families whereas women were working for 'pocket money.'? Do you want to see that coming back, regardless of the fact that not all working men or women are married, or intend to marry, or have any interest in having DC at all?

The whole of post-industrial capitalism is set up to function on the backs of unpaid women: the men earn the money, the women do all the domestic work including the childrearing (and care of the sick and the old) in exchange for being 'kept' by the wage earner. It's not sustainable. And now, with the high cost of housing and the determination of large corporations to keep wages low, it's a right mess which will not be solved by poverty-bashing.

"IMO if you're claiming tax credits you are struggling, and therefore you can not afford to have another child."

The thing is, it's not up to you.

In fact you don't get any say in what other people can afford or how many children they can have.

Tannhauser, again, I'm not claiming ANYTHING at the moment, please read the thread. Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion as am I. I'm entitled to the opinion that you are talking out of your hat. Familiessharegerms, I understand what you are saying and actually agree but at the moment the thought of leaving her is breaking my heart. When she's older I will indeed go back to work, I believe I said that upthread, she's 6months old. I love my job. I teach young adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. I've been working with peopl with learning disabilities for 23 years and think I've earned a little time out to raise my own family. I feel strongly that this doesn't make me a scrounger just a mum making a valid choice. I will enjoy going back to work when the time is right. I haven't made any firm decisions yet but it looks like I'm going to stay at home. SGB - I'm really attracting them aren't I?! Where's Billy Bragg when you need him eh?

Rockchick- I live in a 2up2down, we have 1 v old car thanks. I would love to have a 'lifestyle' but I don't have money for one of those.

SGB- I am not poverty bashing- I have lived in poverty for the greater part of my life. I work so that my children will never have to experience what I have.

Kitty, I understand where you're coming from (sorry I kissed the bit about how old your daughter is). I felt completely ready for a break from work with our second, in a way that I didn't with our first. I thought my heart would break leaving my daughter in nursery - it doesn't.

FWIW, I think asking to what money you would be "entitled" in your post title has got people's back up

missed the bit!!