to work or not to work - this is the question??

[poopeeplops]

Hi looking for anyone in the same boat, i have just had a 'back to work meeting' and a 'better off' meeting at job centre and it turns out i would be worse off if i returned to work!

I dont have any support from baby's dad so its just me and my income, I love my job but physically couldnt do it unless i live in a tiny place , centre of london and never see my child for childcare and even then it works out im in minus figures already according to 'better off' meeting.

Im happy to leave work but never thought i would be living solely on benefits and have always paid my way and worked 60-90 hrs a wk as it was my dream job and now i have to scrap it all, dont get my wrong i adore my baby and would gladly do this but it doesnt make it any easier to swallow. Anyone else here living on benefits - whats it like? is there light at then end of the tunnel to return to a good job in the future???

Hi there, sorry to hear about your situation. I have 2 kids and am currently on maternity leave after having baby no2. This "better off" meeting. Did it detail any help available to you from Child Tax Credit (working tax credit)? Just a thought incase they missed that out.
When I went back to work after DD1, chilcare was to cost £625pcm and I only earned £1000pcm but the childcare element of working tax credit gave me a little towards the childcare making it slightly more worthwhile working.
I must state that I'm not in your position plus I live in Scotland which may mean different rules.
Remember that you shouldn't feel guilty if you can't return to work, it's not your fault.xxxx

This is a really tough one. Your DC will be in expensive childcare from now until they are three years old when that cost will drop by 15 hours per week and then when they go to school, you will only have to pay for childcare for the hours outside of the 9-3 school hours so it will drop again.

If you leave work now, there are plenty of studies that show your long term earnings will be lower than if you continue in work now, it will be harder to get back into work and you may miss out on any pension cover you currently are entitled to. Also, on a slightly less rational point, it is harder to go back full time if you are used to being a SAHM.

So better off now does not necessarily mean better off in the long run.

Quite apart from weighing up the short term versus long term money side of things, there is also the emotional / child development / parent child relationship and the long term happiness of your family unit. This is even more difficult as it is impossible to know whether you would both (or anyone for that matter!) be better off with you as primary carer and living on benefits for the time being, or with you working and with the long term prospect of being better off.

This might not sound very helpful if you have explored all other options but could you do your job somewhere else? partly from home to save commuting time, another location where it's cheaper to rent? are there any family members who could help? Finding another job in this market would not be easy but is this something you could look at in the medium term? Everything is more expensive in London.

Good luck with your decision, at the end of the day, it might just come down to what feels right for you and your DC.