Lone parent and going back to work? Is it worth it?

[HelenPapa]

Hi, here's my situation:

I'm a lone parent with two small boys (3 and 2 years old) and I have been offered a job of 20 hours per week split out in 5 days (so it will be 4 hours per day). That means that I will be working 20 hours but I will be paying childcare for 25-30 hours (so approximately £250-300 per week).

My biggest concern is that I had another job during the summer for 5 weeks and I paid the childminder double of what I was earning but the HMRC STILL hasn?t dealt with the ?childcare element? of my working tax credits and it?s been 3 months already. I still owe the money that I borrowed from my friend to pay the childcarer. Plus, the childcarers need the payments in advance. I don?t have £1000-1200 to pay in advance. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO PAY THE NEW CHILDCARER IN ADVANCE WHILE I DON?T HAVE ANY MONEY? Obviously the HMRC will pay the childcare element (or not) after a few weeks at the best scenario, so what do I do? Do I get the job or stay on my current benefits?
I really don?t know how to handle this.

Please help me!

At the risk of been shot down in flames for this I would stay on your benefits til your kids are in school. I used to work part time but now I'm fulltime and I'm absolutely shattered and I feel bad for my kids that I'm not completely available to them. Anyway, that's all I've got for you. Im just exhausted sitting here. Good luck with your decision.

Those hours sound as if they would be great once your eldest is at school.

Is it worth struggling through until then?

My older son goes to school two full days (09:00-15:00) because he is entitled to the 15 hours free nursery but that doesn't mean that i will be working those hours...
I'm trying to decide until tomorrow because on Wednesday they are waiting me to go for my induction... But so far I tend more to the "stay-as-I-am" side of the story....