WWYD Carer/Work?

[Happyshopper2]

I wondered what others would do in my situation?

Background - I am a full time carer with my own disabilities. I am currently on UC and would continue to receive UC no matter which option. I have always worked. This is only for a temporary amount of time around a year or two. Small possibility it may go up to 4 years but unlikely. I will then return to full time work.

Option 1 -
Part time work in addition to being a full time carer. I would earn £5 per hour after UC deductions and the maximum I would earn a week is £100. The job role is difficult/stressful and involves unsocial hours.

Option 2 -
Claim Carers allowance in addition to UC and just be a full time carer. I would be £360 less off per month than working.

What do you want to do?

I want to have my old job back that I had to give up to become a carer. Other than that I don’t know, I’m torn.

I’m currently doing option 1. I have always worked and I also feel guilty not pulling my weight if I don’t work. I feel scared giving up job security and would rather not lose the extra money. But I also don’t want to do the job I’m in longer than I have to. It’s not my usual sector and it’s not the job for me. I am capable of doing the job but I don’t like the environment, unfair workload and it’s a difficult job which with my disabilities I am finding hard to manage on top of my caring duties.

Money wise it would be better to have the money but we could still just about survive. Our outgoings are low ish anyway. We have already had to drop a lot as my last job was a grade higher and I worked longer hours so less hours and a minimum wage job meant a big dip.

It sounds like your job is crap and you don't enjoy it at all. While it's admirable to feel you should be working, it doesn't mean sticking with something you hate.

Surely you could try and find a less stressful, more flexible job?

If you can afford to lose the money then you don't need to feel bad about not working. But it would be a shame if you do enjoy work in general not to share your skills and feel that sense of purpose.

Either way nobody should judge you for your choices in life.

@BillieWiper in a nutshell yep! I have been looking for other jobs but it’s finding something that matches my availability. I am thinking of any wfh positions too but it’s like hens teeth.

It absolutely scares me that if I have a break from working that I might not be able to find work again. I think it’s fear of the unknown.

Work in general I enjoy, it’s just this job I don’t. I think where I was in a more senior position before, and I (hate to say this) am more capable than a lot of the people I work with, I get an unfair work load. It’s also very toxic and culture also plays a role in the environment and colleague relationships. I have honestly never worked anywhere like it.

I'm sorry to hear your current job is so crap. Fingers crossed for you to find something better x

@BillieWiper Thanks

As someone who has been a carer for a family member for years, keep something for yourself OP, even if it’s not the stressful job. Volunteering perhaps or a very part time position. I found being a carer and not having other work destroyed my self esteem and I lost my own identity.
i wish you luck with it whatever you decide

@AmberFawnthank you, I agree that is a good idea. If I did choose carers allowance I saw I could still work if I earn under £204 per week so if I could find a different job part time that would be much better. At the very least I would volunteer or something that I can do for me. I don’t want to lose my confidence either.