How do single mum's work!!

[Icantthinkofanything]

Hi I have been trying to figure out how I'm going to get a job and actually be able to afford it 😣 I'm 24 a single mum to a 1 year old, 2 year old and 7 year old. I've never worked. Ive Done work experience and helped in schools when I was 16/17.
From 2010-2016 I was in a DV relationship which I was controlled and I wasn't allowed to work among other things. the last 2 year's I've had to go on benefits and I've been getting my mental and physical health issues under control. I suffered with ptsd, anxiety and depression. I think I'm fine now, i have more good days than bad and I really want to get out the house, meet people and get off benefits as it's so hard but I can't figure out how I can afford it.

All week I've been ringing and comparing child care fees.
Fulltime
The lowest I have found is £780 a month for my 1 year old. My 2 year old is getting 15 hours free funding but doubt if I go full time she will get it but anyway if i do it will cost me £520 a month extra. If not then £780 a month.
Part time- my 2 year old is free if I'm still entitled to the funding (can't figure out if I am or not) and my 1 year old will be £780 a month.
My main bills are £1160pcm not including luxuries like internet, phone contract, clothes ECT.

So I need to earn a minimum of £2500 for 4 weeks bills/childcare for fulltime or about £1900 for part time....

Is it even possible??? I got offered a job, a decent job, minimum wage but a big company, full time but after 2 months I can change to part time if I wanted. But childcare is kicking my ass. There dad won't help either but I do get maintenance off him but it's such a silly amount.

I think all of that is right haha. Just wondered if a single mum with 2 young kids can work

Yes, of course you can, lots of single mums manage it perfectly fine. To be honest, your post reads to me as if you are trying to prove to your self that getting a job is impossible, and therefore you don’t have to do it!

Regarding the childcare, unless you get a megabucks job straight away (in the kindest way possible, this sounds highly unlikely) you should be. entitled to help with your childcare costs. Have you looked into this? I don’t think you should expect to come off benefits when you start work, if only because you have three children.

Have you looked at childminders? That might be more cost effective as you have more than one child to consider.

What you need to do is find a job, then work out the childcare/benefits situation. Don’t be self defeating. Good luck, I hope you can work it out.

Go on the website entitledto.com and do a calculation based on the wages you could earn to work out what financial support you can get.
Support for single working parents on a low wage include working tax credit and housing benefit as well as the continuation of child benefit.
You can get up to 20 per day for childcare costs pwr child through tax credits for the older children as well as the 30 free hours per week nursery care for younger ones. Many employers have a childcare voucher wcheme where you dont pay tax on the money for childcare.
Alternatively you could do a course to up your skills in an area such as work as a teaching assistant and only work term time

Hi op. Wow, so what have you been thinking since posting? I wonder if it would be better for you to use the time to study towards something? Is there a cut off point where you have to go back to work?