UC expects single parents to work 30 hours, any tips on how to do it?

[Llama98]

I’m new to mumsnet but this is really stressing me out at the moment. I have a son (will be 4 in a couple of weeks) and a daughter (will be 2 in a couple of weeks, there birthdays are days apart from each other 😆)
and I’ve already had 2 meetings telling me that when youngest is three in a year I need to work 30 hours.
I live on my own, have no help and the dads only have the kids over night every other weekend just for one night.
I always get “what about grandparents” but they all have full time jobs or are disabled and cannot physically look after young children.

So I just want to know, how do I do it 😭

Being alone with next to no help is hard enough as it is. My Daughter starts nursery soon and I couldn’t even find space for the kids to be in nursery at the same time!
I work a couple of hours a week but that’s dependent on if my daughters dad cancels on me (he likes to just declare he’s going travelling or has other stuff to do) as he will look after her a couple of hours so I can work but that’s only 5 hours a week.

i also can’t drive so doing drop offs, getting to the job then pick ups again will be difficult. If it was 16 hours needed to work I could probably just about (and I really mean just about) manage it all.

has anyone had any experience with not being able to meet the 30 hours and if so what happens? There are not many flexible jobs and I would need one to make this work.

sorry about any mistakes i do struggle with my dyslexia quite a bit 😅

That’s another of my worries, my son gets bugs from nursery all the time! Spreads it through the rest of the household 😅 also there will be inset days and teacher riots to think about

Did you read her post? How can she possible be away from her children for 12 hour shifts without help. Not even childcare is open that long.

Op, you need to meet the minimum threshold and they'll leave you alone. That's 18 hours at minimum wage or £892 basically.

I get it, it's hard!

there will be inset days and teacher riots to think about

I have nothing to add except this made me laugh. many times I’d have liked to riot when I was teaching 😂

Dinner lady role wouldn’t be the financial equivalent of 30 hours a week all year round.

Does he pay maintenance? Have you pursued him for it? Surely everyone year you're out of work is making it harder to get back in so you should be working part time now?

i worked 30 hours when DC was younger. I’m a registered professional and was working in the NHS 8-4 four times a week. Lucky the hospital was only 20 minutes away. It’s tough with no child maintenance or family nearby but once in a routine with decent wraparound care it’s fine. DC went to breakfast and after school club… it would not have been possible without this. I’ve never been on UC but I think they help with the costs of childcare. The NHS are good for flexible working and I took leave over the school holidays to reduce the cost of holiday clubs. Good luck, you’ll be fine once you get into the swing of it

She is working part time now. Even if it’s not many hours it’s a foot in the door.

@mine78 I meant she's had incorrect information about benefit rules

I'm not sure 2 hours per week keeps any foot in any door..

I personally think the UC rule change from 16 hours to 30 hours at age 3 is very wrong and that the 30 hours requirement should only start when the child starts at primary school.

It’s very difficult for single mums especially those with 2 or more kids that have no help from anywhere else.

It depends what she does. And she said 5 hours.

Am not sure why your being told 30 hours it's not about how many hours you work its about how much money you make. Single mum off 2 youngest is nearly 10 I work 18 hours a week.

She may not have the funds though! Learning to drive is very expensive. Plus she'll need to pay childcare for at least 2 hours a week. So £50 a week plus say £30 for childcare.

Look for a childminder now.
Find one that collects from your son's primary school and get on her waiting list.
Take whatever nursery days you can get for your daughter and then ask the childminder to fill the gaps and do after school and holiday care.

Do you have any skills that would transfer to self employment? I would urge you to start a business of your own if so. There may even be financial help for this.

Absolutely this, you have to do what every other working single parents does. My dd have never had an overnight with their DF in 15 years.
you really can’t expect to only work a couple of hours a week.

I would also recommend NHS if you have carer qualifications. I think they offer your best opportunity for progression. Failing that have you thought about cleaning? Cleaners round here (not SE or London) charge £18 per hours and they're still all full up with no more capacity. The lack of a car might be your biggest hurdle with that though.

this ^

we manage because we have too. Start looking for a place now, and also work! after school clubs/childminders etc - its not forever but its something you need to do

what if there was no UC? you would have to work

no judgement here either ive used UC and its very helpful,especially the childcare element!

good luck

OP, instead of waiting until your youngest is 3 start looking for a job now that way you can get hours of childcare in place in time. If you leave it until your DC turns 3, then have to find a job, then have to get childcare it could make months and you'll be sanctioned. You have heard how other single Mums do it without any help from Dads, family or grandparents and that is what you will have to do. Give yourself time. Don't put yourself under time pressure by leaving it until your youngest is approaching 3. You'll be able to claim 85 percent back for childcare.

You need to earn £892 per assessment period. That will go up a bit next year. It equates to 18 hours per week currently.

I would use the next year to upskill - ask for help at the jobcentre for help with courses etc so you can do this. That way you can potentially move into a better job or a job you are interested in.

I worked full time as a teacher from the time my youngest was 1. I know I got school holidays off but I used a child minder. I'd drop off at 8am and collect at 4pm. I took my marking home to do in the evenings when all 3 DC were in bed. I had a DH but he was working away during the week and Saturday and was only around on Sundays so I felt like a single parent.

Ok. So you have a year to sort this

It's 30 hours work or earning over a certain amount right? Do you drive? As you have experience in care homes I would market yourself as a cleaner/home help. I did this 5 years ago and used to charge £15 - £18ph for this service. It's flexible and you can choose your own hours to work around the kids, limiting childcare needs

I'm sure your experience as a married mum in a professional job with all the school holidays off is a real help to the OP.

But you were in fact not a single parent, neither emotionally or financially.

I don't understand the £892 figure. I'm a single parent and my minimum income floor is more like £1350 per assessment period.