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This site is an archive of the OneSpace Forums. Return to forum index.
Hi,
Can anyone tell me what benefits are available for single parents in the U.K? I am living in NZ and want to return.
Many thanks
Laume
Hello Laume
I replied to you yesterday and at that time I suggested that you contact our money experts direct, that is still my recommendation. You can contact them by clicking here
Hi Laume, how did you get on with our Experts? Did you find the information helpful, when are you thinking of returning?
Hi,
I am new to this site and I really need someone to give me some directions on how and where I should be starting to get myself organised before the birth of my baby. I am working full time and just find out I am pregnant. I am not with the father and I will have to bring up the baby alone. I rent a room in a flatshare with one other, my flatmate does know yet that I am PG and I don't think she will be to pleased about it.We supposed to sign again for next year in November this year.The flat is very cosy and her bedroom and mine are only separated by a whole and right next to each other.I am completely lost and really don't know where to start and who I should be contacting for help!I tried the CAB but can't get hold of anyone there. I kept dialing 02083336960 which is the number to call for Wandsworth residents but did not get through nobody ?
Hi Sab, welcome along. Congratulations on the pregnancy. You will of course need to tell your flatmate, as arrangements will need to be made, eg, whether you'll stay on there, or whether she'll get someone else to move in, or she herself move out. If I were you, I would go to the council and have your name put on the list. This of course doesn't guarantee you anything, but at least you're on the books. If you've only just found out about the pregnancy, then you've time to sort a few things out. Do you have relatives that would be willing to put you up for a while? What are your plans once the baby is born? By this I mean, will you go back to work? You could claim Income Support and child tax credit if you're not working once you've given birth. So, when is the baby due?
Hi Sab
The main things you need to organise at this stage are housing and money.
Have a look at this page about maternity pay and money after the baby arrives
Hazeleyes has suggested some great ideas, get your name on the housing list! However there may not be any social housing avaialble so you may have to think about private rented accomodation and for that you would need a bond, so something to think about in terms of savings. How many weeks pregnant are you?
Thanks so much for getting back to me. I left a message for the advisor (I think, I'm not sure I'm using the site correctly!) but I haven't had a reply yet. But someone did answer my comment, saying probably my son who is home-schooled would have to go to school so I could work fulltime.
So I am stuck in NZ at the moment, with no support and no friends (poor me, ahah!) But there is no support back in England either (long story!), so I'm stuck.
I have to have some hospital treatment too, and my husband has agreed we will pay for this over here, and I think I should get it done here. I'm physically below par until I get some treatment.
We have an appointment with a counsellor next week, but my husband says he is expecting him to tell me I am over-reacting. He doesn't think we have a problem.
I have been crying all day, and not well. He on the other hand, is out at a friends watching the All Blacks!! He invited me, but I thought I might burst into tears! And as we are no longer sleeping together, I feel like we are already separated.
Anyway, thanks a lot for a kind word over the cyberspace. I might have to try to get self sufficient over here somehow before I make my move. I'm in no physical danger, just emotional abuse, but I'm verging on depression and it is hard to hide it from my son.
Best wishes to you.
The advisers will reply within a few days, they do not work weekends.
I am sorry to hear that you are feeling so low. It's sad and lonely to contemplate the end of a relationship and it sounds as if you are already starting to mourn things. People cope with emotions in different ways, witness your husband going off to the rubgy. Reading this might help a bit.
In the meantime, whilst you are feeling these feelings and gathering the information you need to make some decisions, be kind to yourself and try and do some nice things so that life is as pleasant as you can make it under these difficult circumstances
Hi
I'm trying to think of alternatives here.
As you are home-schooling your son, you must be feeling very isolated. Is there a reason why your son isn't able to go to school? If he did it would mean that you would be able to be in contact with other adults, even if it were only in short spurts.
While your son was in school it would also mean that you would have some timre to perhaps do some volunteering or part-time job - again to bring you in to contact with other adults.
I do realise how easy it is to become isolated, and have come to appreciate how a bit of company can help.
Do take care.
I'm new to this site, not sure how it works yet!