Ugh, finances are looking a bit grim...

[Neverending3]

Three kids (two live at home, are two yrs and one yr) - I receive hb, ctc and chb.

Should I be receiving Income Support or is this specifically for working people? (I am self-employed but not taking on work atm due to being a lone parent). Money seems to be dwindling fast!

Yes income support if you have a child under 5. If you can work 16 hours or more then you can start to claim working tax credits instead of income support. If you can work then you would probably be eligible for maximum help with childcare costs too.

Use the turn to us, benefits calculator which will let you see what you're entitled to.

Thank you. I just don't seem to actually have an income!

My two year old is entitled to the 2gether funding for nursery which is 11 hours a week (or 15 term time) but that's not enough for part time work and I still have my one year old to consider for childcare.

Tax credits only kick in for the self employed if you are making MNW (net profit) for 16 hours a week.

Why are you not taking on work?

I haven't had any work since my two year old came along and if I went back to the company they'd want me to redo all my training and I wouldn't get any substantial amount of money... I'm rethinking whether to do something entirely different but that too doesn't promise a steady income.

If you've not worked in two years, sounds like a rethink is in order

This is the thing - there's no way I could find a job, even part-time, that would cover the costs of two nursery places, and as I'm still paying national insurance and tax returning it every year then staying self-employed makes sense. But I also can't afford to retrain and take on a pittance for the first few months! I have spoken to the jobcentre who have informed me that, yes, I should be in receipt of Income Support. Now here's hoping they'll backdate it!!

Do you not get child support?

Neverending
Why would you need nursery places?
Use your skills and work from home.
Think laterally.
My total childcare bill in 17 years has been under £1000 - no family nearby
as I worked when the kids were asleep, then when they were at free nursery, then when they were at school.

If you take on paid work of 16 hours or more a week then tou would most likely get maximum help with childcare costs through tax credits, I think they pay up to 70%. You can then claim working tax creidts and will be better off than on income support.