Becoming a single mum

[pennylee]

I've decided to go it alone with my 18 week old son. I've been on the goverment website to see what I would be entitled to get in the way of benefits but find the website confusing and it doesn't seem to offer the information I'm looking for. I assume I will get income support, housing, and child tax credits. Is it true I can go back to work for up to 16 hours a week as well? I'm so confused. I need to work out how I will cope and it just seems like I can't get any straight answers. Please help!

Have you been to the Jobcentre and Citizens's advice? Friend of mine did this, got the breakdown on what she'd be entitled to as a single mum and then went home and packed her G's bags. She works 23 hours a week and gets tax credits, but I think threshold has been reduced.

I think I need to go to CAB but don't want him to know. That's why I thought it better to come on here...

Why does he need to find out? Can you not go out alone?

If you are a fairly low earner you shout get 70% of your childcare costs paid. But you need to work over 16hrs a week.

Give Gingerbread a call, they'll tell you straight off.
I love Gingerbread, they could be your new best friends.

Hi Penny, Bike is right, the Jobcentre is the place that you need to head for. When I was in a similar situation they were fab at sorting everything out for me.