Benefits for single parent

[HL123]

I'm going to be having my first child this year and I'm by myself. I rent privately, £800 per month and earn 35k - take home about 2k per month after deductions. At the moment it's doable however if I go back to work full time I would really struggle to afford childcare. I'm not sure if going back part time and claiming benefits would be better financially (if it is then that infuriates me that the government make it that way, because I'm more than happy to work full time!). I have had a look at some online calculators but feel a bit confused by it all. Has anyone got any knowledge on this please?

If you put your info into www.entitledto.co.uk/ then it will tell you your entitlement. On your salary it’s likely to only be about £30 a month but you can claim for help will childcare.

(If you decide to leave work) There is a cap on how much housing benefit your Local Authority will grant towards your rent. Where I live it's about £520, so I have to top up the rest out of my UC. So it's definitely worth checking that out for your area.

It's a really difficult decision because Childcare is so expensive but you should get some help towards it :)

The calculator from PP is a really good one to use

£634 per month approximately from UC if you are earning £35k and baby in nursery

That’s estimating nursery fees at £250 per week
That you’re under 35 and working 37 hours per week without pension contributions

It’ll be mostly to cover nursery fees

Could you afford somewhere cheaper to rent? On a slightly higher salary than you and some months even on a monthly mortgage payment of £400 it can be tight.

Thankyou for all the advice 
@KurriKawari unfortunately not - I'm lucky that I rent a two bed place that my mum owns, which should cost almost twice as much as I pay.
I'd struggle to find even a studio flat for less than £800 around where I live. I've considered moving but I feel like the support of my family being nearby is a priority at the moment x

I’m no expert but I think you would have a challenge to get any housing element of UC if you are renting from your mother (especially if a non-commercial arrangement). Is there any flexibility in how much rent you pay or when you pay if you are tight some months?

@Fedupofballs It should make no difference that a family member owns the property as long as there is a tenancy agreement in place. Lots of people rent from friends and family and I know at least one person claim housing element of UC whilst renting from a parent.

OP, with the housing market being so insecure, I would definitely not give up the security of renting from your mum. That sounds like a really good price and she's hopefully a good landlord!