UC mums to work or not to work

So if your on UC you'll probably get my point if we earn over 400 we get deductions... my sons 2 other son in school age. I work around 25 hours week (mon to Fri school hours) I just feel like it's all getting too much I'm a carer so the job is quite hard sometimes. For travel expenses and a dog walker I'm spending half of my wage anyway on that I'm only better off around £200 a month. But on a mental level I'm so overwhelmed tryna potty train son, cleaning, cooking all the mum jobs ( I'm a single mum to add) so it all is on me. I'm worried if I stop working I may end up the other end of feeling lonely and depressed!! What's the best balance I don't know!

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Could you drop your hours? So you don’t need a dog walker maybe and you’re at home more making it easier to get the ‘mum’ jobs done x

I work 21 hours and couldn’t cope being at home all day with my child. I go to work for a break 😂 I’d say being at home all day wouldn’t be good for your mental health either. maybe look at reducing your hours instead before not working at all. Maybe hours between 16-20 a week.

@Scarlett I agree when I finished my maternity leave at 9 months I went back to work doing 30 hours with 3 children being a single mum. I could not stay at home with them I would of gone mad. When my last started reception class I went full time.

You can't just give up work completely on UC, as depending how old your kids are you'll be expected to work a certain amount of hours (and rightly so IMO). When I was a single parent with school aged kids I worked full time. I'll be going back for 30hrs a week next year after maternity leave. You can absolutely manage it, you just have to be organised!

Whatever ypu decide remember when youngest is 3 UC will expect you to earn a certain amount or work meetings will start back up. X

I recently became unemployed, I’m a single mum and desperately looking for work but everywhere wants over 30 hours which I can’t do because I don’t want my daughter in childcare full time because in my personal opinion it would seem like I’m letting someone else do the real important stuff and spending bonding time with my baby just so I can go to work and work really isn’t the be all and end all but I’m so bored at home and really want to make my own money instead of relying on benefits so I’m pretty down right now tbh but yeah I wouldn’t choose to not work

I do 2 full days of care a week 12 hour shifts so my little girl only goes to nursery 2 times a week and someone just has to get her from nursery then I’m home 2 hours later, her dad normally gets her as we are together but do you not have family that can support with that? That way you only have to pay for transport 2 days a week and the same with a dog walker xx

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