Job centre plus letter...... are people on benefits really better off if they work part time? Please help me

[juicychops]

Ive recieved a letter today asking if id be interested in speaking to a specialist lone parent advisor about advice on calculations of weather id be better off working or not and childcare help whilst attending interviews or training.

I would absolutely love to get a job, as i am so desperate to work again.

But ive had one of these meetings before a while back and i would of been about £30 per month better off after childcare costs as all my benefits would shift and be reduced.

I used all sorts of wage amounts per hour from basic wage to about £6 per hour and it always worked out about £30 extra as i have to take into account travel and £35 nursery per day.

I have no help with childcare so id have to pay for it all myself. and ds is only 2 so too young for pre-school

Is there anyone who is on benefits but found they were actually better off working part time?

thanks muminfife. Im doing an open uni course at the moment which i get paid for me so hopefully one day il have a great well paid job.

so its work im after but what you said about these interviews is true. and i would have no one to have ds if he was sick

juicychops - unfortunately there are loads of people out there in your situation. I have seen so many women say the same (I work in housing benefit)- it works out that you are slightly better off almost 100% of the time BUT it's often by such a small amount it would just take a few days of sickness or other unforeseen circumstance to mess up your finances.

In your position I would definitely go and have a word with them and see if anything has changed since you last went - but if the sums don't work out, it's not your fault, you are doing everything you can. Best of luck with your course.