Research by Gingerbread, as well as statutory and other agencies, has shown again and again that most lone parents want to work outside the home at some stage.
Gingerbread offers a comprehensive package of services to lone parents to help you make the transition into paid employment – this includes comprehensive advice on benefits and tax credits, careers guidance and training and help to find and keep a job that you want. Experienced and friendly advisers can offer one to one support and guidance and provide information on and practical help with:
• finding out about training, further education or job opportunities that are available to you locally
• accessing financial support while you are studying
• finding and paying for childcare while you are studying
• applying for courses and jobs
• preparing an up -to-date CV
• preparing for interviews
• finding out about in-work benefits (see below)
• building your self-confidence
• getting the job you want
The decision to go back to work is one you should consider carefully and we recommend you take advantage of all the advice and assistance available to ensure you have all the information you need to help you make your decision.
If you do decide to go back to work there is financial assistance available to help you make the transition between claiming benefits and returning to work. There may also be help to top up your income from Tax Credits when you are in work which could also help with childcare costs. Gingerbread’s advice can help ensure you gain access to these entitlements.
When you are going into work :
Job Grant – If you have been getting Income Support before going into work you can get this payment of £250. It is designed to help you with some of the costs of going back to work and help you get by until you are first paid. You should claim within 21 days of starting work.
Housing Benefit Extended Payment - This is four weeks full Housing Benefit after you start work, you can get this if you have been getting Income Support before going into work. You claim this by letting Income Support and Housing Benefit know that you are staring work.
Social Fund - As you will not be able to apply to the Social Fund for Grants or Loans when you are getting Tax Credits we would recommend that you consider applying for a Grant or a Loan before you come off Income Support.
Child Maintenance Bonus - If your claim is under the ‘old rules’ in Child Support you may be able to claim this bonus if you are going into work after being on Income Support. This will be made up of Child Support that was not being
paid while you were on Income Support, this will have been held for you until you go back to work. The bonus can build up to maximum of £1,000 – you cannot get more than this even if the amount of Child Support held back was more than £1,000. You should claim it within 28 days of starting work. The Child maintenance bonus scheme is being phased out and will not be available to parents in the new Child Support Scheme. Parents with care under the old
Child Support rules will continue to accrue entitlement to the bonus and will be able to claim it until transferring to the new arrangements.
When in work :
Housing Benefit - you may still be entitled to Housing Benefit after the first four weeks, this will depend on your income. We would recommend that you seek advice on this or simply make an application. Working Tax Credit - If you are working 16 hours or more this can be paid on top of your income and can include
help with your childcare costs. It acts as a top up for low incomes. This payment can also include help with up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs where your child is looked after by a registered childminder, nursery or play scheme or similar. Less formal Childcare may be included through the Home Childcarer Approval Scheme – contact us for more information on this.
Child Tax Credit - This is a payment for families with at least one child. It is made up of the following elements:
A family element that is payable to any family responsible for a child. It is paid at a higher rate to families with at least one child under the age of one. This is known as the baby element.
A child element for each child you are responsible for. This is paid at a higher rate if the child has a disability and at an enhanced rate for a child with a severe disability. This is known as the disabled child element.
Will I be better off?
Our Advice workers use a computerised checker to help you ensure that you are getting your full benefit and Tax Credit entitlement. We can advise you on the full range of benefits and Tax Credits and can do detailed ‘Better Off’ calculations which will breakdown your income when in work showing wages, tax credits and help with Housing costs. If you are not sure of your income now or if you are thinking of going into work then get on touch with us – we can give you this on paper to let you consider it.
Thinking about work or working for yourself?
If you’re thinking of starting your own business or becoming self-employed you can get financial and practical help with childcare and to help make work pay. It’s best to consider very carefully and we recommend you take advantage of all the advice and assistance available to ensure you have all the information you need to help you make your decision.
Gingerbread can offer Careers Guidance to help you consider your options as well as practical advice on how the process will work as well as what your income will be when you are in work. It may seems daunting to make such a big change but will explain issues such as moving off benefits, how Tax Credits work, how to deal with Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and how to make sure that you get the bonuses designed to help ease the change.
If you are considering working for yourself we can advise you on how to start this process and we can outline:
• Tax and Self-Assessment
• National Insurance
• Tax Credits
• where to get support and advice
Gingerbread Careers, Education and Guidance Service - 9032 1417
Other benefits:
Health benefits – you may still be entitled to help with prescription costs and other health service costs when you go back to work but this will depend on your overall income level. We would recommend you seek advice on this or
simply make an application.
If you need any more information or advice please contact us:
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Freephone Advice Helpline - 0808 808 8090
Website – www.gingerbreadni.org
Email – advice@gingerbreadni.org |
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