£126 a week extra I need to earn

[NotALotToyouButitistome]

Single parent to a disabled DC, who already does the maximum they can cope with in childcare.

I work 3 days a week, and even if DC could cope with more childcare I’d be worse off working than I am now due to loss of some UC and the extra childcare and the travel expenses (I drive but can’t afford to run my own car so buses and/or taxis, no train station within walking distance) – even with claiming it back via UC, because they only pay 85%.

I claim UC, DLA and CB on top of my wages. CMS cannot find an income for my DC’ dad so that’s a no go and I’ve taken it to mandatory reconsideration and they still can’t find an income for him, he’s listed as a volunteer in his only job and his only expenses claimed are £15 a week for lunches – which CMS say is well below the minimum wages allowed to have to pay CMS.

I need £126 a week extra, just to survive so about £400 extra a month and I need to be able to do it from home.

I can’t move due to court ordered contact between DC and Ex and my housing association don’t have any houses that are cheaper in the area so I’m tied into £650 a month rent. I already have the cheapest broadband, no TV packages, no steaming services that have to be paid for. My phone contract is paid by work (they know I use it as a personal phone as well) and I still can’t survive, I feel like the worst mum. Rent, transport and childcare are my biggest expenses and I can do nothing about them.

I have to spend around £200 a month on electric due to DCs disabilities and needing specific things like sleeping with a light on (we’ve tried nightlights they didn’t like them, it has to be the full light) and leaving the bathroom light on all night so they can navigate the hallway.

Any other ideas?

Feel awful even suggesting this but could you share with your DC and have an official lodger or a live in au pair instead of using your current childcare?

What are your skills?

Could you be a home based virtual assistant?

I've seen around 10 people asking for one and many others recommending same for senior employees who are needing some support for not a full time PA

I'm actually going to be advertising for a niche VA soon. There's definitely a market for it.

You'd need IT at home (Internet, computer) and exceptional IT skills and organising skills. Would need to be quite confident too.

They earn £20 -£40 per hour.

@RandomMess DDs bedroom is tiny, she already has a wardrobe in my room it's that small, don't think anyone would want to rent it.

2 of my friends are VAs - 1 established, 1 just starting out.

@CaptainSeven I looked into VPA work before but they all wanted 8-10 years experience in similar none virtual roles which I don't have.

Are you getting the disabled child element on uc? And the carers element as well if they get middle or higher rate care?

@TiredArse Get MRC, but earn just slightly to much for carers allowance, do get disabled child on UC but no extra money due to my earnings, it basically balances out.

You can still get a carers element on UC even if you don't claim carers allowance. Do you not have the carers element on your UC statement / If not then you need to report you are a carer asap and ask for a backdate.

You can get carers element (£167) even if you don’t qualify for carers allowance. Report the change now and request backdating to when the dla started.

@NotALotToyouButitistome - you need to start somewhere though. How else will you gain the experience?

My 2 friends are self employed.

What is your job, what are your skills? You may have the right transferable skills and depending on how long you've been working could meet requirements.

Your answer to me really feels like you gave up much too easily!

@Babyroobs Yes I get carers element of UC but it doesn't actually work as more money, as due to me working and deductions it works out I'm slightly worse off working. But I can't quit work as I couldn't live on UC alone due to high utility bills.

Report Ex to HMRC and the company he works for

What do social services do if you say you can't afford to be a parent so DD needs to go into foster care?

Rent with another single parent - could be an utter nightmare or work will bit awful to lose a secure tenancy.

Have you ever done a benefits check with, for example, citizens advice?

Also have you checked your broadband is on the cheapest social tariff rather than normal tariff?

To make small amounts you could look into buying then re-selling. Some people make a fair amount that way, also checking the freecycle groups then upselling. If you have craft skills you could try etsy.

Better paying job? What do you do?

@CaptainSeven I work in retail, earn just over £15k a year for 3 days a week as I'm a supervisor, and until this year felt I was doing ok financially.

@RandomMess He lives with his parents and is down as a volunteer for the company he works for. Basically he lives off his parents and I can't get their income taken into account, just the way it works.

Presumably no family help with childcare so you could work shifts and earn a higher hourly rate?

House swap within the local area to get better transport links? You could go to court to move further away as you can't afford to live.

I have to spend around £200 a month on electric due to DCs disabilities and needing specific things like sleeping with a light on (we’ve tried nightlights they didn’t like them, it has to be the full light) and leaving the bathroom light on all night so they can navigate the hallway.

Not wanting to miss the point, but do look at this electricity bill. Lighting doesn't cost much at all. Leaving a couple of lights on 24/7 (especially if they're LED bulbs) would be a drop in the ocean of that bill. It's something else that is clocking it up.

He is receiving benefit in kind for working there. I'm not talking about CMS I'm talking to Inland Revenue that they say he is a volunteer when he is working and receive "payment" to avoid pay tax and NI etc

@RandomMess £15 is nothing, £3 a day for lunch if he's working fulltime.

I'm not saying I won't report him, but I did always think you were allowed to claim certain expenses back from volutary roles.

Who owns the company?

What about call centre jobs that are WFH?

It won't be much but have you checked with your water company if you qualify for the watersure scheme which caps your water bill?

@RandomMess It's a national charity

Have a look at Parish Clerk work, I do 8 hours a week at £16.61 an hour. Flexible apart from an in person meeting every two months but you know the dates a year in advance.