Getting all confused about going back to work

[tammybear]

At the moment, Im a SAHM, so Im on income support, housing/council tax benefit, child tax credit etc. I havent had my contract sorted out yet, but when I do (so I know for definete how much Im getting and my hours etc) Ill contact them all to let them know Im going back to work, and apply for Working tax credit too.

Problem is I know that Ill be coming off income support as Ill be working roughly 20hours, and Ill be getting roughly £5-6000pa. So Im sure Ill have to pay for some of my rent, but will I still get housing benefit? Theres no way Id be able to afford the rent on my own!

Plus Im looking into childcare. The hours Im working are 2.30-5 Mon-Fri and 9-4 Sat. My mum will be looking after dd on Sats and finishes work at 3 during the week, so Ill only need about 1.5 hours of childcare each weekday. Would it be worth getting a childminder, or is there another option that would suit me better? Plus will I still get help paying for it too?

Im hoping to go to CAB to get some answers, but I cant go til next week, so was wondering if anyone can give me some insight now. Thanks xxx

how old is your child? you get 2.5 hrs a day paid for by the govt the term after they're 3. also our nursery is a community one, and had 10 assisted places, which are means tested for people on low incomes/students. these are paid for by the LA.

my dd is 20months. i think shes still a bit too young to go into creches and nurseries isnt she? or isnt she? lol im so confused

both my girls have been in a nursery since they were 7 months and they/we love it (3 days a week)

but it depends on your personal preference really. helps them to socialise and gain confidence imo - if you get a good nursery that is. they love the routine and even though dd2 is going through a clingy phase (15 months - well she's been like this since she was 8 months) at home, she's fine at nursery and doesn't cry when i leave. dropping them at nursery is much worse for the parent than the child in the first few weeks and then you wonder what you did without it.

but with nurseries dont they have to be there for a certain amount of time? (dd's my first so I have no clue about any of this)

You should get Working Families Tax Credit, and the childcare part too, which on the income you describe would pay 70% of your childcare costs as long as you use a nursery or registered childminder.

Have a look here to get an estimate of how much you would be entitled to.

Most nurseries will only do a minimum of half day sessions I think, so you might well find that a childminder is more flexible for the hours you need - especially if you can find one who has older children after school, but is less busy during the afternoons.

And once you've worked out what you might get in the way of tax credits, plug those figures into this one for a guide to what you might still get in housing benefit.

You wont be able to claim for any money you pay your mum as the carer has to be a registered childminder or nursery.