Sorry to rain on the parade, but I've been a single parent for over 12 years, it is not as simple or easy as just claiming some make out (not pointing any fingers). The government are trying to siphon off the support people need and children are in poverty because of this. It is really difficult to find reliable childcare in order to work if you don't have family on hand to help out. The government and particularly the private companies running the work programme you are put on after being unemployed for over a year, they don't care about restrictions to the hours you can work, they try to sanction left right and centre for such things as not being able to take a job until 9pm on weekends. I love to work, have worked most of my life, but where childcare is scarce and only Mon to Fri 9 to 5 at best if there are places free it is difficult to juggle. What am I supposed to do - leave my children at home alone?? Work programme call it "putting up barriers" , I call it reality being the main carer. There actually targets for sanctioning. I have had to get the police onto them for their harrassment and bullying. Only thing that worked. On universal credit you won't get any payment for up to 6 weeks and landlords don't like to take you on. I am not sure how it works wrt owning your own property.
It is an uphill struggle of fighting, beaurocracy and paperwork, to get just enough money to exist on. Meanwhile being treated as scum by job centre, work programme, universal credit.
Currently me and two children surviving on £41 total per week although our rent is paid mostly and the deficit made up by my ex partner. You should get £73.10 for yourself, plus £117 for two children plus £34 child benefit. However I had to leave the care work I had been doing since 2012 last July because it was all sorts of hours and my sister who had been doing childcare for me moved away and had a baby. I was sanctioned for 'leaving a job voluntarily' and have a tax credits overpayment as left in middle of a tax year, they admit it's not my fault just how it is. I have called and pleaded, no one cares, my appeal was rejected twice. They don't care. If it wasn't for my dad sending money we would barely eat. Money goes back up in April but we have been living like this since July and using food banks. My daughter goes to a good school out of area and they have bought her a laptop and given a grant for uniform. I am embarrassed I cannot afford things for them others have, I have to take her pocket money to pay for internet connection, i/we walk over ten miles a day to save on bus fares and I am in big arrears with gas and elec. Saving up for lightbulbs after paying out for vaccine. Rent always paid thankfully. The £41 goes on food only. This is how we have been surviving since last July. Have considered prostitution but cannot bring myself to do it and it is against my religion. Roll on april.
I don't mean to scare you, if you need to leave you need to leave, but I have resolved to tell everyone who thinks there is a safety net their taxes pay for, just how it can be.
I wish you luck OP but please do your sums, take advice and don't be bullied. Make sure you and your children will be provided for before taking the jump if at all possible. Welfare Rights and a branch of the police community services have helped me.
Sorry for the hijack but I have resolved to try and make people aware who think their taxes are being used for a safety net for the vulnerable , what is really going on.