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Hi all im new on here looking for some advice really!
I am a single parent of 3 children aged 4, 2 and 9 months. I work 16 hours but am finding it really hard to juggle the newly come to me school run, looking after 2 babies and working in between. I am wanting to know how much income support i am entitled to and other benefits. I really could do without working for the time being as i am finding it hard with child care but i dont want to stop working and not be able to afford to live. Can anyone help please.....
Thankyou will av a look 
Hi dondon2090,
Did you contact our Expert? Did you get good news? It is exhausting working and raising children alone - let alone 3 small ones.
However just to play Devils Advocate, I think once you leave work it is harder to get back into it. But on the other hand, if you were to go on income support it would give you time to do some training or volunteering before you were moved to JSA when your youngest is 5.
What job do you do and do you enjoy it?
I am going to go to citizens advice on monday and have a face to face conversation. Since leaving school i have always worked and never been on social so not sure how it all works. I work in local co-op its ok but staff can really be annoying and bitchy im not like that and it gets on my nerves. I always wanted to go to college and make something of my life but never got round to it or do some kind of course. I have good friends and a good family that help me out when ever possible so I cant really complain but every one works and have their own lives dont want to depend on them. I love my mum she is a great help but she is a very busy woman. She works looks after her parents and the grandchildren and just think she can do without me puttin on her as well!
P.S unsure why my avatar looks like it has no trousers on its made with trousers!!!! LOL
They are just lovely white linen trousers, dondon2090! at least if they are on an avatar then you don't have to iron them
Beautiful trousers....!! 
They're not trousers, they're leggings No need to iron these
Hee hee! You haven't got any trousers on!!!
Have you seen our courses that you could do online? Have a look at Your Learning and see if something there that takes your interest. This area of the site is in the process of a revamp, but you can jump straight in and start today!
What would you prefer? Find another job with better people, change careers or take a break and go to college? I think it sounds as though you would prefer the latter.
Good luck with CAB, let us know how you get on 
JSA is from when your child is 7, not 5....or are they changing it yet again?
It is seven at the moment. There were proposals for the age to be lowered to five but the age seven change is still being phased in. The age five limit is due to start being introduced from "early 2012".
Thanks 4 all your help. Iv decided to leave work in and i am going to do a college course and do something I enjoy. Look after my young ones and get my self into gear
Good luck and best wishes.
Keep posting. It will be good to know you're enjoying time with your children.
Good luck dondon. I'm sure you'll do well.
Wishing you lots of luck, dondon2090!
Hello dondon 2090
Welcome to One Space.
Luckily we have our Ask the Expert feature about money and benefits. click here to see the form and fill it in. Please remember to mention whether your house is rented or your are paying a mortgage and also any disabilities any of you have.
Hope this helps