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Original poster

Leaving work/ getting benefits

123 replies

justdeeeee · 29/08/2017 13:03

Hi,

Just looking for some advice please.

Both me and my OH work full time, claim no benefits, LO is in full time with the childminder/pre-school. We've always been really tight with money, and it's now gotten to the point we are seriously considering the potential of me leaving work.

We've used the benefits calculators and sadly it works out as about £400 better off if I was not working and claiming benefits instead.

As far as I am aware you can't just quit your job and start claiming benefits?

How do other mums deal with this?

I would love nothing more than to get to spend everyday with my LO, I feel like I miss out on so much time with her.

Obviously we can't just quit willy nilly and hope for the best- we barely make it through living paycheck to paycheck and it's getting embarrassing repeatedly asking family for financial help.

So basically I'd like advice from mums who have chosen to leave work and then had to claim benefits.

Did you have to wait before claiming?

Saving up so that I can leave if that is the case is not an option, we really do struggle every month.

Please help, we're so stressed out.

OP posts:
thatdearoctopus · 29/08/2017 13:07

Sorry, did I miss something here? You want the taxpayer to pay for you to spend more time with your child? Is that why the rest of us go out to work, leaving our children, so you can stay with yours?

Original poster
justdeeeee · 29/08/2017 13:16

I understand your reaction to my post but it isn't that simple. We've been stuck sleeping on an airbed in the front room for 2 years now, desperately trying to save and move but as I mentioned above, saving isn't an option when we end up borrowing most months just to feed ourselves for that horrid week before payday.

Recently restarted our council housing application, so fingers crossed there.

I'm trying to ask if it is an option, my LO would have such a better quality of life if we weren't so skint all the time. I want to provide for my family, hence why I am still working full time.

Isn't the benefit system designed to help? Isn't that what I've paid taxes for?

And this wouldn't be permanent, only until LO starts school next September.

We're just running out of options and family members to borrow from

OP posts:
GahBuggerit · 29/08/2017 13:23

The benefit system is for people who absolutely need it, its not really a savings account you can dip into so you can have more time with your DC Hmm

How much is the CM? And come September when she starts school how will you manage the pick up/drop offs if you work FT?

Sorry, but I simply don't believe that you would be £400 better off.

fucksakefay · 29/08/2017 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 13:28

Op could you reduce your hours instead of quiting?

I did this and we are better off

Original poster
justdeeeee · 29/08/2017 13:35

Sorry- still a newbie here- CM means?

I'm not saying I'd quit just to spend time with LO- I'm saying we're so skint all of the time despite both working full time, that benefits genuinely pay out more.

I would not be proud of receiving benefits.

Come next September I would simply start work again- I prefer to be working so please do not see me as a scrounger. We're trying to make it work. Just reaching the limit of debts that are building up.

fucksakefay- yes we have, she's 3. Currently paying 780pm for childcare costs
Reducing my hours is sadly not an option- I am the only person in my job role- we are a small office with only me and my boss, and 2 drivers/warehouse. So sadly its either all or nothing

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 13:36

Thats unfortunate. Maybe look for part time work

Graceflorrick · 29/08/2017 13:46

OP, it rounds like you're in a really difficult position.

Are you married - if not, quitting work for benefits may result in you being in a very difficult position if you and OH break up.

In terms of benefit payment being better than earning, that's sounds very idealistic. Surely if you disclose you live with your OH he would be expected to provide for you financially? That could lead to resentment.

To those being unkind to OP, shall we just be honest and acknowledge that some women do this! She's not alone! If the system lets people do it, then it's open to flaunt!

OP, I'm a high earner, it has been easy for me to maintain my career. I understand that isn't the case for everyone. Good luck Flowers

thatdearoctopus · 29/08/2017 13:51

shall we just be honest and acknowledge that some women do this! She's not alone!

That doesn't make it the right thing to do. Benefits shouldn't be a lifestyle choice, in my opinion and I don't think it's "being unkind" to point that out.

Original poster
justdeeeee · 29/08/2017 13:54

Thank you graceflorrick-
No we're not married, one of our other "options" is for my OH to move out... obviously this is last resort, but then benefits would help me to stay in work as I'd be classed as a single parent :/
Thank you for being so understanding, it isn't like we haven't been trying to make this work out :/ setting a good example and what not, but at the end of the day i would only be out of work for a year or less...
So is it worth continuing to put ourselves further in debt?
I feel so stuck :/

OP posts:
Graphista · 29/08/2017 13:58

While I sympathise massively you couldn't pick a worse time to do this. I am a Lp on benefits and have been not working at all for last 9 years due to ill health. Even though I am currently classed as 'worthy' of the safety net I am being 'encouraged' to go back to work in large part because of the policy changes to benefits.

For starters as your child is over 3 you are as far as govts concerned supposed to be working/job seeking full time (which you have to prove and takes as much time as working sometimes more depending how many hours you currently do) unless you are very sick/disabled.

As such if you leave voluntarily I believe currently policy is you would not be entitled to ANYTHING for at least 6 months. By then most areas will be 'live' for universal credit, which takes a minimum of 6 weeks for first payment so that's 7.5 months minimum before you receive a penny!

There's absolutely NO guarantee you will be able to get a job when you want to certainly full time. I was reading an article yesterday on a recent report which says TRUE unemployment figures are that there are 6.5 times more people unemployed than there are jobs (official figure is 4 but doesn't inc anyone on ESA, students who are studying because they couldn't find work, under 25's, mothers with children under 3 etc).

Universal credit is a DISASTER. (Go read some of the threads on this) food banks are limiting families to 3 parcels in the 6 week waiting period because they're having to ration supplies as there's just too much demand.

Online calculators are a GUIDE Only and they have disclaimers stating this. I've never found them completely accurate.

Bad bad idea.

Katescurios · 29/08/2017 13:58

Have years u done a thorough check to make sure you are not entitled to child tax credits or any other support now while you are working? If your child starts school next September then are you not entitled to the 30 hrs now?

That's going to be making a huge difference to us come September, our monthly childcare bill will go from £722.50 a month for a 4day week to £180 a month during term time.

Also are you using the childcare vouchers or tax free childcare to get the cost savings there?

Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 13:58

Op you do what you need to do for your family

ShotsFired · 29/08/2017 13:58

@justdeeeee I'm saying we're so skint all of the time despite both working full time, that benefits genuinely pay out more.

What jobs do you do that if you are both working full time you still can't make ends meet, despite living quite cheaply (airbed - assume that is in someone else's home)? Which also means minimal other "real life" bills too. (Apologies in advance for the term "real life", I have hot brain and can't think of the right term, but I don't mean to offend). What were your financial plans for when you planned to have a baby into the mix too?

Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 13:58

Op you do what you need to do for your family

PoppyPopcorn · 29/08/2017 14:00

You've put the wrong title on your thread, it should be "Help me play the system and screw the taxpayer".

gamerchick · 29/08/2017 14:02

What benefits were you thinking of claiming? If your partner works full time are you sure you would be entitled to anything?

2ndSopranos · 29/08/2017 14:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thatdearoctopus · 29/08/2017 14:07

Op you do what you need to do for your family

That attitude infuriates me.

Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 14:10

Everyone jumping on the op infuriates me ...

Finola1step · 29/08/2017 14:14

If your dp works daytime, could you get an evening job. So you will be at home with dc during the day and then swap over when he gets home. You will feel like ships in the night buy if no CM costs, it could be worth it. Or you stay in your job and he gets an evening job.

Hugepeppapigfan · 29/08/2017 14:17

Your child will get 30 free hours of childcare from 1st Sept. If the childminder doesn't offer it then find one or a nursery who does. It's 30 free hours for 38 weeks or some will let you stretch is 22 hours for 50 weeks.

thatdearoctopus · 29/08/2017 14:33

Everyone jumping on the op infuriates me ...

"Everyone" isn't. There have been some quite constructive suggestions actually, aside from my frustration at the assumption that the state will subsidise someone who is capable of working.

adviceadviceasvic1234 · 29/08/2017 14:36

I agree, do what is best for you and your family. If you are £400 better off a month on benefits then for me, thats a no brainer..

adviceadviceasvic1234 · 29/08/2017 14:37

Thesearoctupus

Why does it infuriate you? Do you not do what is best for your family?Confused