I need your very honest opinions.

[lisad123]

I gave up work nearly 2 years ago, after they had dx dd1 with autism, dh with cancer and dd2 with possible autism (now confirmed).
I have been doing freelance work for the last year or so, not huge amounts and certainly not enough to effect carers ect.
However, I have seen the most wonderful job that I know I would love and would like to think be good at.
It's 19hours a week, term time only but money isn't as high as freelance work but certainly would mean I lose my carers ect because it's regular and more hours.
I miss work, I miss being someone other than a mum of two girls with autism.
Do I go for it? Am I settin myself up for too much stress?
I would certainly need to discuss what happens about girls and dh appointments ect.
Am I ring really stupid even considering it? Dd1 is at school ft and dd2 starts school in sept but is at nursery 4 full days.

Hi Lisa

It would be stressful trying too juggle the demands placed on you by part-time work and caring responsibilities but having a 'life' outside the home would give you the opportunity to 'switch off' and enjoy being 'just Lisa' for part of the week.

I could only manage work because work was local, so no long drives to appointments. When apointments were sent for times that I was working I just rang up and rearranged them.

It depends on how flexible your employer is. We have flexi time so I'e never had to ask for time off for appointments, I've just rescheduled my own hours or covered them with annual leave.

You could try it and if it doesn't work out you can always give up and regain your Carer's Allowance. I'd be wary about disclosing the fact that you'd need time off for family medical appointments. It may make you less attractive as a potential employee.

Might be a bit hard to hide my family life if I applied as its with the autism advisory service. I have always worked with families and children so not a change completely.

Bear in mind that the £100 per week is after the following:

"Expenses that are allowed are for things like:

-some National Insurance (NI) contributions
-Income Tax
-half of any money you pay towards personal or occupational pension schemes
-other expenses you have to pay because they are a necessary part of your job

After allowing for these things, you are allowed up to half the rest of the money you earn to help meet the cost of paying someone else (but not a close relative) to look after a child or children, or the person you look after, while you are at work.

Please note, when looking at your income, Carers Allowance do not count Occupational or Private Pensions as earnings." Directgov

So actually, you could be earning substantially more than £100 per week before you actually lose your carers' allowance.

The other thing to bear in mind is whether you are working 'term-time only', ie. you get paid during term time but not during school holidays, in which case your pay will fluctuate; or if you are working 'term-time only' but they are averaging your 39 weeks of pay over 52 weeks.

If there is a recognisable pattern then you could argue for your pay to be averaged over the 52 weeks, which will reduce your weekly pay.

One more thing to look at is whether you are 'freelance' as in self-employed or whether you are an employee.

If you have to do the work specified in the time specified for your specific employer, using their equipment, then you should be classed as 'employed'. If, however, you choose your hours and who you work for, etc., then you are self-employed. You need to be very clear, because the rules differ.

Go for it!

I am in a similar situation in terms of freelancing and I went for a job yesterday which is part-time and would need some adjustments.

In fact, I pulled out of the interview initially as I didn't think I would be able to manage the amount of time I would be away from home but, rather impressively, they called and talked over the issue and discussed flexibility.

I think this is because of changes in the law which means you cannot be discriminated against because you have responsibilities to care for a disabled child.

See the following:

The Equality Act includes new measures to protect carers of disabled or elderly people from discrimination and harassment. This type of discrimination is sometimes called "discrimination by association". The carer is discriminated against because they are associated with a disabled or elderly person. See the Disabled people section, above, for more details of who is classed as being disabled.

The Government Equalities Office has worked with Citizens Advice Bureau to produce a guide to the Equality Act for carers as well as a general guide to the Equality Act .

I agree with Lougle about the earnings. I work part time/part year and we have the option to have our salary averaged over the year, so we get paid every month; I earn under the carers amount and it does make it easier to not be having to reclaim for every school holiday.

I think if it is your dream job, which we all know you would be ace at, go for it. Although the juggling has it's disadvantages, the benefits of contributing outside the home and being an adult not focused on your own kids all the time is very beneficial for your wellbeing which will have a positive impact on the kids.

I too, having had 10 yrs doing a little bit of work here and there, have my eye on a job. Again not great money but think it would be good for me and good for the kids to see that I am more than just their ticket to everything they desire. still up several times a night with ds so bit concerned about having to work after no sleep but might wait forever for a full night's rest.

I would probably give it a go! I went back to work recently (20h/week); the girls are at nursery in the meantime. my employer is flexible with appointments and being not a mum but myself for some time feels actually really good :)
I have to admit I find it hard to stay on top of the household but not being in during the day with the girls creates a lot less work at home than the three of us at home all day. and a term time job is perfect - at least you don't have to worry about suitable childcare during the school holidays.

I just put my application in for carer's. have not heard back but as lougle said, they take into account pension contributions, childcare costs etc so you might still get carers allowance.

suppose, if the job does not work out, you could always go back to freelancing?

good luck whatever you decide!

Wow! So much information to take in. I have shied away from returning to work before, because (mistakenly) I thought that I would lose my Carers! I will start to give this a bit more thought now. Looking for a TA job for September (aren't we all!)

Go for it - I just got the job I went for OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done appropriately!!!!

Weirdly discussed this with a psychologist at hospital yesterday (child psychologist though! ) . We talked about balancing needs and how the added dimension of being seen in a role other than mum can have benefits to your mental health that filters through all other aspects of life. So rather than making you less able to cope with other aspects of your life due to less time, your improved mental well being feels more able to cope with the challenges.
Good luck with your decision, but as with most things, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Go for it. What's the worst that could happen? You hate it so you resign. What would you have lost?

Would you get family working tax credit? there would be a childcare element for after school club? I know there were altering it to 20 hours/30 hours so have a look online. At least you would be able to roughly calculate what you intend to earn in the tax year and then the credits would be spread over the year week to week and childcare costs hopefully covered if needed :)

I would go for it too regardless :)

You're applying for a job with the SAS?

Good grief

Fwiw, given that you are keen it hardly needs to be though of as a life time commitment. Like the rest of you can simply do something 'for now' and make adjustments as they are needed, ultimately leaving when you told to falsly and anonymously report a parent for DLA fraud or whatever!

19 hours a week term time only... so presume no holiday pay, no sick pay, what about overtime etc.

Lose carer's allowance during 39w/year and try to claim it for holiday weeks, plus tax credits and/or other benefits claims vary & become unstable... hmm. The sort of job designed NOT to suit a carer, methinks.

But if things could be organised like Lougle suggests, that's different. Am meant to be off internet for Lent so will go away now

Just quick post as busy here this morning, but it's term time only but money will be spread over 52 weeks, holiday and sick pay is pretty good.

My friend said I would get fired after a few month as would cost LA too much because I would be too good at letting parents know what they should be getting

If they were to pay me top wage stated which I would ask for as it's less than my current payi would earn £683 before tax and NI. I would have to consider afterschool care and maybe breakfast club. Need to look at what I would lose in ctc, but think I only get DLA side of it iyswim.

go on a benefits calculator and it will say what your entitled too lisa, www.entitledto.com Good Luck x