To work or not to work?! Some advice please

[anonymoooose]

Hi all. So will try and make a long story short - I’m a single mum to two kids, 10 years old and 18 months old (have an older son who lives away). I started a part time (18 hours) fixed contract in September. The contract is due to end on 31st March.
My problem is I hardly have any money to survive once I’ve been paid from this job.
I get £788 every month and my daughters nursery fee is £660. My sons after school club is £135 a month. This month UC have said they will give me £320 and they keep fluctuating so I can’t keep to my debt schedules. I went back to work because What I was getting from UC wasn’t enough so I thought working might be better but petrol and childcare, lunch for myself is just crippling me. I’m just thinking it’s not worth working and I HATE being stuck at home all days everyday. I like to meet people and keep my brain juices going but I’ve started defaulting on my bills and debt repayments now because I don’t have enough.
My contract might be renewed if the NHS trust get some more funding but I’m don’t think I should stay on. My anxiety and depression have come back as well as bailiffs because I haven’t been able to keep up. Just wondering what you guys suggest…
For me to be able to come off UC and work full time and cover my essentials childcare and debts I’d have to be earning quite a bit. I managed it when I was younger and only had the one son but now it’s so much harder
Anywho I appreciate any advice 🤗

Hi, sorry to hear you didn't get a reply OP

It's rubbish that starting work means you are less well off. I don't have much advice but wanted to mention with the debt payments it might help to speak to a place like stepchange / payplan who deal with plans to get back on track.

That doesn’t sound right on such a low wage with childcare costing you over £800 a month and UC total is £320? Are those figures right? So after childcare you have £313 for rent, food and all other bills?

Would there be cheaper childcare, maybe a childminder, and for part time shouldn't be so much..

@Akire

That doesn’t sound right on such a low wage with childcare costing you over £800 a month and UC total is £320? Are those figures right? So after childcare you have £313 for rent, food and all other bills?

If OP got paid four weekly so twice in a month or something like that, then yes it can happen.

Personally I would wait until your youngest is older and doesn't need as expensive childcare provision.

@Orangesandlemons77 @Akire @Cherryblossomtree99
Sorry I posted this under another subject and got ripped by some for asking this question
I have spoken to UC and they said it didn't look right and they are looking into it.

I had a childminder and she was even more at 1200. However she wanted her money weekly (£300) and wouldn't budge from that so had to find something else
It is sounding like there isn't enough funding to continue my post past March anyway but still it is a worry.

Thank you for advice though, I appreciate it

That's Ok, it sounds stressful! I wonder if things would improve as your youngest gets older and childcare less expensive perhaps. As a PP mentioned. All the best

I’m glad they are checking the figures, some people can be so nasty about benefits don’t take it to heart. Some people never imagine their lives being turned upside down and need support. Fingers crossed for you.