UK Benefits Question after having Baby
Discussion
Advice needed please.
Myself and the missus have always been in full time employment since leaving school around 20 years ago, never ever claiming benefits of any kind. She's due back to work after 9 months maternity leave. Looking at childcare costs against her wage, its proving not worth her while, childcare fees plus her petrol to work and back are basically equal to her wage, therefore we're debating if its worth her while.
Question, if she packed in, what benefits would we be entitled to? Because we've never claimed before, I do feel naive on the subject.
Any help appreciated - serious responses only please.
Thanks in advance.
Myself and the missus have always been in full time employment since leaving school around 20 years ago, never ever claiming benefits of any kind. She's due back to work after 9 months maternity leave. Looking at childcare costs against her wage, its proving not worth her while, childcare fees plus her petrol to work and back are basically equal to her wage, therefore we're debating if its worth her while.
Question, if she packed in, what benefits would we be entitled to? Because we've never claimed before, I do feel naive on the subject.
Any help appreciated - serious responses only please.
Thanks in advance.
My workplace does offer childcare vouchers, although as I openly declare, I've not looked into them.
Her workplace offers nothing that we know of, and would not be open to suggestions of home working etc, so its full time office based 5 days a week, take it or leave it. At the moment its not looking viable.
Her workplace offers nothing that we know of, and would not be open to suggestions of home working etc, so its full time office based 5 days a week, take it or leave it. At the moment its not looking viable.
Thanks for the advice so far, much appreciated.
We looked at nurseries and costs were far greater than a private childminder. Regarding career ladders etc, my job is fortunately by far the greater income, her job pays around 20% of our household income, so we're not too fussed about the starting at the bottom issue, if and when she were to go back to work.
We looked at nurseries and costs were far greater than a private childminder. Regarding career ladders etc, my job is fortunately by far the greater income, her job pays around 20% of our household income, so we're not too fussed about the starting at the bottom issue, if and when she were to go back to work.
tankplanker said:
My wife stopped work completely after the twins were born as no matter how we cut it we'd have been worse off financially if she went back to work. Lower paid 9-5 type jobs only work with free or close to free child care provided by relatives or crèches, when you end up stumping up £140+ a week for childminder plus other costs of working (car/commuting costs, work clothes, extra food) you can soon find you're losing upwards of £700 a month just to get to work. Even on a take home of £1500 its a massive chunk of your wages and soul destroying.
My wife used the time to retrain and change careers so she is now earning nearly double what she was before we had the twins.
Best response so far, exactly where we are. Thanks.My wife used the time to retrain and change careers so she is now earning nearly double what she was before we had the twins.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff