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You don’t have to wait till they are 2 now. It’s now from 9months old onwards (15hrs free childcare). From September this year all children from 9months get 30hrs free childcare for working mums x
You’d need to look at your finances and what you’d be entitled to under UC.. I mean with no other income you’d more than likely struggle with bills and outgoings and then days out with the kids etc.. but if you’d rather cut back for several years to be with your babies then there’s also nothing wrong with that. I know personally I couldn’t live off UC with one baby let alone two! X
@Kya because some people prefer to be with their kids rather than leaving them with strangers at this young age
You need to check if you are entitled to. I have considered but then I found out if you have savings more than 6 k you can’t have it Also my my husband is working even if he isn’t high earner I still don’t qualify So I have worked 17 years and paid taxes and when I need to take the time off I can’t .. it’s different on other countries for example in France you get back what you paid for
@Aimee I was just going to say the same , it's a struggle 😫 gone are the days benefits did cover our lives 🤣🤣 , I was working before my middle child , however he was prem at 24wks sooo when we brought him home.... my mat leave was over....I was soooo not ready for work sooo I quit.....then now I have my daughter 🤣🤣 i don't know when but I will return to work as like you've said it's just not feasible etc .... I just don't know if it'll be when she's 2 or earlier etx ..... but the way our world is even work may not cover everything , working or not we all feeling the pinch xx
I don’t want to leave my babies regardless of free childcare. Not until they’re of school age and can talk. I was hoping that I would be able to financially be okay and wanted to see if it is doable. I didn’t earn a great deal anyway. Would take home about £1700 a month working full time. If I was to return and do half those hours I would be taking home around £800 a month.
@Kya I am capable of working. I’ve worked for 17 years before having my children. However my youngest has a breathing condition which she should grow out of by the age of 2. I don’t trust anyone to have her. I don’t have family around to support.
@Louma thank you for this. I don’t want to leave them so young!
Are you single? Or do you live with a partner? X
@Aimee I’m single. Currently living with my disabled mother x
You’d get £985.76 as a single claimant over 25 plus two children born after 2017 - then you could potentially claim your rent, as well as if you’re a carer for mum. Have a look at this website with the rates, you’ll get an idea with what you’d be entitled to, if fully eligible with no savings etc xx https://cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/key-topics/universal-credit/universal-credit-basics
@Aimee thank you so much for this. I have no idea how any of it works as I’ve never claimed benefits before… but my babies come first and I need to stay at home to support them- especially my daughter. I did intend on returning but didn’t realise she had this breathing condition until she was born, so it’s been a shock and the thought of leaving them just breaks my heart and makes me so anxious. I haven’t even told work yet. Just trying to get my head around it all! X
Neither have I, I spent months when I went on maternity leave figuring it out and how I’d be able to even cope with SMP only and have the time off with my daughter !!! Also bear in mind, you could go back 1-2 days a week just to top up your money and still get your full entitlement with universal credit if you feel you’ll struggle! I’m going back to work at 9 months simply because I’d only be entitled to around £700 which in no way would I be able to cope - and they’ll still top my wages up for me xx
If you live alone it works out better, UC pay your rent, plus money for bills and children. I get £2100pcm in London. Then you get money from children's dad. And small amount weekly child benefit. It works well for me. I've heard you only get £800pcm if you live with a partner
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@Jolene thank you. It does seem like this is the way forward for me personally too.
@Jolene omg your so lucky, I wonder are you in a capped area.? As I only get £1800 , I get a statement amount but they deduct almost £900 and I have no debts or anything.. I can just about surrvive Lol , Also my rent is 1,800 - It's a real pisstake the inflation or everything!! X
@Jolene this is crazy, I’m a single claimant over 25 with one child and I’m only entitled to £681 without rent 🤡 plus the £100 child benefit x edit* I just looked at the LHA rates in Wimbledon and it makes sense now 😂😂
@Elle (i can't see waves) why do they deduct money if you don’t mind me asking? X
Basically the government implemented a scheme year's ago that after 2 children , you get capped so for example in my monthly statement it shows im entitled to around £2,694 -however due to the 2 children cap in London they take off £842.....So I'm then left with £1,850.... my rent is £1,800 so once that's paid .... I'm absolutely fudged, I do get yhe child benefit but that just covers, food and bills just! - Its a hard life my 3yr old is at nursery and my 1yr old well i want to be with her till she's at least 2yrs..... but given the current climate of life etx I'm not sure it'll be feasible for me, I also have a 16yr old starting college who needs a brand new wardrobe 🤣🤣🤣🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ x
@Elle (i can't see waves) oh right. Thank you for explaining that. I know the feeling! My son turns two at the end of the year and even so I don’t think I’ll be ready to send him to nursery. I didn’t think I would be this mum 😅😂 I take them to bright start groups before the mum police attack.. so they’re well socialised. I feel for you! I thought buying clothes for little ones was expensive but i can imagine it being more so for teens! X
@Elle (i can't see waves) just to be nosey so please do tell me to go away 😂😂 does your rent get capped by the LHA and not cover your full rent? X
Yeahhh, Initially I was the same taking them to the baby groups, However for us personally with him being born at 24wks ..... he's you know slightly behind in milestone - As expected but goodness me, he started August last year and he is thriving, he's definitely been acknowledged as being under the spectrum of something..... we're just awaiting diagnosis.....this time last year he couldn't talk or anything, now he sings , counts , etc it's soo beautiful and humbling 💜 I'm shit worried for him to attend school only due to him being my special baby 🤐🤣 ! Yes all brands etc gone are the days he would happily wear primark 🤣🤣 xx
@Aimee yeah it doesn't cover it lol , however I'm entitled to a 3bed ....... Just can't find any Lol ,, so I'm a 2bed although originally it was a 1bed lol ..So it's also overcrowded , As you can imagine .... but i asked my local council just to join the list As you dooooo lol ... I was told i have no priorities LOL ...Probably them palming me off to carry on privately rental.. Anyway i do have to cover the shortfall,,,, So I do see when I start work again I hopefully will be better off..... yet these days I just feel we will all work one day for nothing.... you know just pay the bills and tissue to wipe our vangittaas 🤣🤣🤣 X
@Elle (i can't see waves) rightt, I’m currently not down on a tenancy so I can’t claim the rent aspect and was looking to get my own tenancy, but with what they pay and the actual cost, I’d be in the same boat! I actually wonder how people do it !!! But good luck girl 😂 x
@Aimee Yeah it's actually a myth to survive in London! Lol On 2023 I was actually homeless at one point , put into a travelodge for 6months- thy did offer me a council place..... In the south of England .... I was like Nope..... so I found what I have now.... temporary as it is crowded lol but just can't find what we need lol and now my son is in nursery doing well , I really don't wanna disturb his learning as he has a few underlying issues going on and has adapted so well.... I'd consider it when he's finished nursery but now I duno it's just a headache lol x
Not to judge people’s situations and I understand benefits can be a struggle, but people should still be greatful if choosing not to work. I’m a single mum with no benefits at all. £0 I have to work because I have saving , my child’s dad doesn’t contribute, I still pay towards childcare even with some free hours, I still pay all my bills and eat into savings every month!!
It’s very unlikely you would be allowed to not work until they are at school because you have to look for work once your child turns 2/3. They are also becoming more strict on disabilities and health issues, with some parts of benefit changing and others becoming stricter because the aim is to get everyone capable of working into work. It’s definitely going to be very tightened this year or into the next as this government wants to lower all benefit payments and claims overall. With that said, because of the decrease in payments it will become very hard to survive of benefits, and if is already hard. I’ve always worked minus when I was made redundant and had to look for work for few weeks, but I have mom friends who claim and have 3 year olds who now are under pressure to find work for 25 / 30 hours per week. The new increased free childcare for working parents starts from September too which again reinforces governmental plans. I think it would be pretty much impossible to school age
You’re better off working part time and claiming UC. I personally couldn’t live off so little money you’d have not much spare to do activities, holidays and live day to day. I work two days a week and get my wages and UC is triple what you’d get in a month. Plus because of all the childcare they are introducing they want you to start working earlier and expect you to commit to job hunting . The income support days where they left you alone until your child is 5 are over
Even though I'm a nurse, I'll probably have to work in a supermarket once children are in 30hrs childcare. As better hours for school pick up. A 9-5 in a practice just won't work. They should change school hours to suit workers. Plus most jobs now are longer than 9-5
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@Jolene I’m also a nurse I work in health visiting. Look at community options such as school nursing, health visiting, community children’s nursing, outpatients, immunisation teams etc there is flexibility out there
@Jolene they should change working hours 😅
@Louma which i understand however, a lot of parents are keeping their children at home until school age and it’s becoming more of a hinderance then a form of nurturing 33% of kids who started reception last year were deemed not school ready, not potty trained, separation anxiety, lack of independence (can’t put jackets on) most didn’t have basic phonics skills please if u are opting to keep your kids home for your own selfish reasons at least teach them based on the EYFS
@Kya it's hardly selfish needs!!!! Rude thing to say. There are playgroups etc. It's not like sahm are keeping the child inside like a hermit!!
I sent my daughter to nursery when she turned 2, as she could talk in sentences. If I could afford to stay at home with her I would! She learns way more with me than she does at nursery, and they expect you to do everything anyway. They won't potty train your child! You can raise a child to above a nursery standard at home, and most kids feel anxiety at starting school.
@Elle (i can't see waves) I just moved and they did the same thing to me I was so shocked
@Kya I’ve worked in EYFS for 17 years. I am fully capable of supporting and preparing my children for school. I know it’s not the case for some… but it wouldn’t do my children damage by keeping them at home.
@Jolene exactly. I do a lot with my children. We go to playgroups and socialise with others not stay indoors all day every day lol.
@Jasmine It's a joke isn't it lol .... Don't get me wrong I worked before I had my smaller babies, I was actually a key worker during Covid sooo it has been nice to be off work 🤣🤣 however obviously it doesn't pay but some of my friends work and they get half of their wages taken away.... So whete is the incentive to actually work when it still gets taken away and your still penniless even while working..???? This whole benefit system is sooo backwards n9ne of it makes sense! X
Our babies will be at school in no time..... it's nice to enjoy their childhood as much as possible in those 3 or 4yrs. I'm 41yrs old and totally enjoying my time as a mum that's not working. I know I can't stay on universal credit forever. As they'll make me work once they can go nursery and school. But I'll definitely enjoy park visits, softplay, playgroups and reading and playing until then. As I know time is precious. Baby years are so cute 😍 💕 and I'm taking it all in. Plenty of time to work my arse off later
Am doing the same am not going back to work till my baby is about 3 years old that’s only because I don’t trust no one with my kids and I want her to talk to me if anybody does anything to her that’s the only why I do it keeps my mind at rest
@Jolene I love this outlook. I couldn’t agree more and I am so blessed to have two beautiful babies and I know I will never regret having time off work to spend my days with them. I just worry that I won’t be able to claim universal credit or get any support financially if I choose not to return to work…
@Jade I hear you. I don’t trust anyone with mine either lol.
@Jade if you don’t mind me asking how do you manage financially? Are they on your arse to get you to work asap? Like you- I want to return to work when my youngest is 3/4.
Am on universal credit and I manage fine and my work told me I can come back when I want I just need to do another interview with them that’s it I work in a nursery
once your children are both 2 & you work you are entitled to 30 hours free childcare per child so i’m not sure why u would plan to live on such a low income for the next 5 years if your capable of working