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Hi Everyone, my name is Sally C, and I'll be online as much as poss to discuss the recent changes made to benefits for single parents. Before I start posting topics however, I wanted to explain what the changes are, just in case you're not sure of what's happening:
Previously, single parents who did not work, or worked under 16 hours per week, were able to claim Income Support until their oldest child was 16. From now until October 2010, changes will be phased in gradually so that single parents with a youngest child aged 7 or above will be unable to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for paid work. While looking for work, you will be entitled to claim Job Seekers' Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance if you are not able to work due to a health condition or disability.
There are 3 main changes:
· From November 2008, if your children are aged 12 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work. If you are currently on Income Support and your youngest child has reached, or is soon to reach, the age of 12, you will be notified, 8 weeks before your Income Support will be stopped, of when you’ll be transferred to JSA.
· From October 2009, if your children are aged 10 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work.
· After October 2010, if your children are aged 7 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work.
There are many options available to single parents to help them with the move from Income Support to JSA. For example, you can request to work part-time, and you will not have to work if you can't find suitable, affordable childcare. We will soon be putting up a FAQ sheet here on One Space to answer your questions and explain the changes more fully.
For the time being however, what do you think about these changes? Will they affect you? How do you feel about this?
Any opinions are most welcome! :)
Thanks, Sally C
My child is only 2 so the changes dont effect me yet. I do feel angry about it though as i think if people want to be full time parents they should be supported. Bringing up a child alone is a full time job in itself!. Also many single parents on benefits have payed into the system and will pay in again when the time is right for them to go back to work. Their is a constant pressure to 'get back to work' which is unfair aswell as insulting. Why should i put my child into somebody elses care?. Branding full time parents lazy is ridiculous- it would be like a break to go back to my old job!. I work hard every day from 5.30 in the morning until 7pm and its exhausting but so worth it. The value of parenting is seriously undervalued in this country.
I agree.
I worked for 22 (possibly more, can never quite work it out!) years before I ended up on benefits. I was also married for 20 years, just unfortunately, he turned out to be a git of a plonker.
My oldest boy needed me more than he ever has before when he hit a crisis. He was 15.
Media has made it so society classes single-parents as a burden. They assume we all breed so we can have a house, benefits and everything paid for! So, thanks to the media (in my view anyway), society thinks this is right and proper.
I'd quite like someone to come and assess and live my life for a while and see how much better they can do.
While in a way I'm exempt from this, as my third child has special needs, so I do remain on Income Support, I do have plans to go back to work. It's just working out how to overcome the barriers.
Yes i think the media cause a lot of problems too. They take the worst examples of single parents and tar us all with the same brush. In reality most of us a hard working people just trying to do the best for our children. Why is it always single parents they pick on? There are plenty of other people not in work. Just found this site last night and was glad i did - slept better after having a rant. Its nice to know there are others in the same kind of situation aswell.
Hi jennyj
Because of all the hype, I feel ashamed of my situation.
Really, we shouldn't need to feel any shame or embarrasment, just pride in our children...
I guess it is because single parents are seen as a soft target. The media portray single parents very unfairly in my view.......condemned for being on benefits but also condemned for going out to work and leaving the kids. Can't win!
Hi sparklinglime. Yes i have felt the same but youre right we should be proud. Its hard sometimes but if we're more positive our children will be too. Unfortunately my ex doesnt have any contact with our son now so i think its really important to spend as much time with him as i can and build up his confidence. I am dreading the day he asks me why he doesnt see his dad. I just hope i'll still have the time to support him it worries me that i might have to be rushing off to work when he needs me.
I am dreading the changes.
Currently I am an unpaid volunteer at an archives project. People at an art gallery keep asking me to volunteer there too and I would really love to but am worried that I will be spotted and assumed to be shirking job-seeking obligations. Both places have environments which do not adversely affect my health, and in which my hearing-loss is not too great a handicap. (Yet I cannot hear a blooming thing in the large echoey gallery over the road!)
To be honest, having been avidly applying for jobs and even getting the occasional interview for the past few years, I have become extremely demoralised by the whole job-seeking process. To spare myself from spiralling into depression and negativity (never a good way of presenting one's self at an interview), I chose to do things differently. I reasoned that I would be far more likely to get a job if I put myself out there in public on the front line where people could see me actively working (OK, for no money) and see what I was capable of. I have build up an excellent reputation as a competent and knowledgeable worker and know that I will get good references. It also means that I feel that I have actually achieved something worthwhile, rather than the soul-destroying pointless head-banging-against-the-wall that all that job-searching had become.
I was mortified by the recent "Benefit Busters" series on TV - especially the one where a group of lone parents were basically humiliated in front of the camera. If someone spoke to me like that I fear I would totally freak out and end up doing something regrettable. The agencies employed by the government to get "lazy scroungers" off the dole seem to have the idea that all people who are not in paid work are incapable of getting up early and are stupid, lazy, possibly junkies/alcoholics and lacking in confidence and job-search know how. There is an assumption that people are unemployed through their own ineptitude.
One good point which the program did illustrate was that agency jobs are a very poor option for people like me. The erratic nature of the work and the resultant administrative chaos when the wages stop coming in, could well result in my family losing all form of income and possibly also the roof over our heads. I realise that, in an uncertain economic situation, the only stability my family had was the meagre but regular income from income support. Job seeker's allowance will place a lot more stress and uncertainty on us.
From some of my other postings on this site, you may recall the difficulties my 11 year old had created by getting back-door excluded from school and also getting into trouble with the police. So last year I was very much a full-time stay at home (felt like being under house arrest) parent and would have almost certainly have been sacked, if I had been working, as my full-energies was needed at home with my son. For all their words, the social services and education authority were incapable of providing the support my son needed. When it came to the crunch the buck stopped with me. There was no way I could have just left my son to his own devices - which I would have had no choice but to do if I had been working. I am certain that my efforts HAVE prevented my son from becoming an asbo-burden on society. Parenting my son to become a good law-abiding citizen is MY JOB!! How do I do that if I am not around?
I just wish the media would acknowledge the work single parents do in keeping society together. If you think about it, as a group we really do make a positive difference. I am fed up and disgusted by the media lies about us. :o(
Hi harissa
That's such a good post.
Agree 100% Harissa! And I think it is fab the voluntary work you have done. I remember we were discussing the new Employment and Support Allowance a while ago, weren't we? And we were saying we hoped that that really would mean that your capabilities were looked at in a positive light rather than the draconian "why haven't you got a job" line. I gather from this post that our hope has not been fulfilled?
Hi All – thanks for all your replies. Your posts have given me lots of ideas for new topics… watch this space!
Hi alisoncam – can I ask who said that you would be moved to JSA this year? As you said in your post, this isn’t correct. You will be moved to JSA in October 2010. You will be notified of the transfer to JSA by Jobcentre Plus 8 weeks before your Income Support will be stopped.
About working around the school-year, I think it’s a good idea to get into the school system as you suggest. You do have the right to only work part-time, and you will not be forced to work if you can’t find suitable, affordable childcare. However, if this is the case you will need to explain to your Jobcentre Plus adviser why the childcare is not suitable. Also, if you are unable to find short-term childcare for over the holidays, you can explain to your adviser that you cannot work during school holidays.
If you are thinking of going to college, it might be worth taking into account that if you are on Income Support you are allowed to study full-time, but not if you are claiming JSA. There is an FAQ section on One Space which might help to answer some of your questions in a little more detail, check it out here:
http://www.onespace.org.uk/single-parents-transferral-from-income-support-to#21
sparklinglime – hi again! And thank you for your post.
I do have plans to go back to work. It's just working out how to overcome the barriers.
What in your opinion are the main barriers you face in going back to work? Do you think there is any/enough support out there for single parents trying to overcome these barriers?
Jennyj – hello, nice to meet you.
Also many single parents on benefits have payed into the system and will pay in again when the time is right for them to go back to work. Their is a constant pressure to 'get back to work' which is unfair aswell as insulting.
I think this is a really good point. I was wondering if you feel a general pressure to work even though your son is 2 years old?
Hi Harissa – I think what you say in your post is really important, especially in that single parents are so frequently portrayed as stupid and lazy by the media if they don’t work, but then they are all too often chided for bad parenting. What is the right balance?! I’m about to set up a new topic on tips for parents going back into work, and I think you’re experience of volunteering is great. Perhaps you could share your knowledge even more?!
:D
Sally C
Just a quick point regarding the advice "if you are unable to find short-term childcare for over the holidays, you can explain to your adviser that you cannot work during school holidays."
I had brought up that very issue with the lone parent adviser at my last WFI and he countered that there is ALWAYS cheap childcare available on the local play schemes run by leisure centres. Well, I wouldn't use the word "cheap" myself as the daily fee worked out more than I could earn. Presumably there are compensatory schemes for childcare payment when this happens?
Also, when I enquired, I learned that the places were booked up months in advance of the holidays, though there were the odd half day spaces here and there. Some of my son's friends with working parents do use the scheme. Some love it while others loathe it. My son did try out a half-day and made me swear never to send him there again! His idea of heaven would be to be left to his own devices all day. Hmmm, I don't think so somehow!
In my case I want to be a driving instructor - a wonky leg is putting this on hold at the mo anyway.
My barrier is finance. It costs over £3000 to train. I do genuinely believe that it would be something that I could do well. Child care is also an issue, but lessons could be fitted around the children.
There is a Career Loan available, but I feel the repayment rates are high when you are a lone-parent. I feel that there should be the option based along the lines of the student loan, reaching a certain level of income before repayments started, and then a low repayment rate. I also worry that a credit check (which seems to be very good when I check!) would mean I would have it declined.
I have debts after major car problems (and even then the car didn't get fixed!). The fear of taking on another debt is also a barrier.
I did sit the first part of the test in January (I had a local instructor at the time, but he has since stopped teaching) which cost £80 and I failed :( . I just don't seem to manage to save £80 to take it again anyway! :lol:
I did write to my MP, pointing out that this could potentially bring in a good income - more so as my children get older and I can work more hours - and I would once again be contributing to the tax system. He waffled though...
Hi Sally. Yes have felt the pressure since my maternity leave ended when my son was 7 months. Lots of people were surprised that i wanted to be a full time mum. I think sometimes it's just expected that you will go back to work these days and i always planned to go straight back myself. My ex stopped all contact with us at this time and i knew my son needed me full time. I plan to go back to work when my son starts school although i want to be able to pick him up from school and spend time with him so it will have to be around school hours. If i can get a job with the right hours and when my son is old enough i will actually look forward to going back to work as i do miss it sometimes!.
Hi Sally
Thankyou so much for this information. I was told at the job centre that firstly my money, income support would be stopped this October as my son turns 7 in September. When I pointed out that they couldn't just stop my money, and how would i live etc etc, she then changed it too, 'your income support will be stopped and you will go on jobseekers. I can't tell you how relieved I am to learn that it won't be until next year.
Hi alisoncam – can I ask who said that you would be moved to JSA this year? As you said in your post, this isn’t correct. You will be moved to JSA in October 2010. You will be notified of the transfer to JSA by Jobcentre Plus 8 weeks before your Income Support will be stopped.
About working around the school-year, I think it’s a good idea to get into the school system as you suggest. You do have the right to only work part-time, and you will not be forced to work if you can’t find suitable, affordable childcare. However, if this is the case you will need to explain to your Jobcentre Plus adviser why the childcare is not suitable. Also, if you are unable to find short-term childcare for over the holidays, you can explain to your adviser that you cannot work during school holidays.
If you are thinking of going to college, it might be worth taking into account that if you are on Income Support you are allowed to study full-time, but not if you are claiming JSA. There is an FAQ section on One Space which might help to answer some of your questions in a little more detail, check it out here:
http://www.onespace.org.uk/single-parents-transferral-from-income-support-to#21
Thankyou once again.
Another point following on from harissa's comment on childcare. Yes there are holiday schemes available and even though not cheap, in theory we can get 80% of the cost back...but this cost is spread throughout the year so when we have to pay it in the summer, we do not have the "extra" readily available. Also once a child hits 11 or 12, childcare provision stops. Now I am sure there are some 11 year olds who are perfectly capable of being left all day and cooking their own lunch and being responsible for the security of the house, but most are not.
I think more employers should offer the "term-time only" option, using students for those jobs in the holidays and I also think that childcare providers should be able to ask parents for a special certificate which proves they are entitled to childcare help, then they should charge the parent the 20% and claim the 80% back direct from Tax Credits
Hi again,
I think it's fantastic sparklinglime that you're so active! I always say I'll write to my MP about this or that, but hardly ever get round to it. I must follow your lead and do more! I think debt/finance is a big issue, especially with (re)training. And of course childcare.
I'm in the process of finding out how to prove to Jobcentre that childcare is unsuitable/unaffordable, if this is actually the case. I'll let you know once I find out. I think your suggestion, Louise, about the certificate for childcare help is a brilliant idea. How can we make it happen?!
Alisoncam, thanks for getting back, it's nice to know I can be of use sometimes! We'll be keeping One Space up to date with latest info on the welfare reform changes, so if you ever need more info, have a look or continue to post here and I'll do my best. It's so important the right information gets out there. I'm really glad you're relieved - it must have been a real shock.
And, going on from jennyj, sparklinelime and harissa's comments, it seems so often people are made to feel bad for being on benefits... what is the point of having a welfare state if when the people who really need it are made to feel awful?! Again, the press are often bad, but I have seen some good articles lately presenting single parents in a much better light than normal, which is promising. It's shocking jennyj that you felt pressure to get back to work when your son was 7 months old. Mums these days have to do everything... have the job and the body back in weeks!
I think your idea Louise about making jobs more school-time friendly is great - I'd never thought of getting students in to cover the holidays. Ingenious! :D
Sally C
Hi,
I have been reading your posts with interest and would like to add my views if i may........
I have a son who is 18 and a daughter who is 7 so next years changes will affect me, i am in a quandry about this as i used to work 16 hrs per week up until last year( a major struggle financially before considering paying 20% towards childcare), childcare wasn't to difficult as my son would help out. On leaving school and starting college plus doing work experience and looking for a part time job he can no longer help out as much.
I now work 5 hrs per week and am topped up with income support, how will this work? Will i be told to leave my current job because if i kept it that would mean i would be unavailable for work! Another thing that bothers me is how is a Mum suppose to find childcare etc at 24hrs notice, apparently on Jobseekers you have to be available for work with 24hrs notice if the jobcentre " finds you a job they feel is suitable". I have a freind who is affected with the changes now & the jobcentre suggested she look for evening/weekend work( what is she supposed to do with her 11 year old daughter i wonder!!)
I watched the channel 4 programme "Benefit Busters" lone parent episode last night and am not impressed............
The woman running the course did make sense in some things she said but i found no recognition of the work Mums do on a daily basis( looking after children, caring, running a house etc), basically it came across as While your just a Mum your nothing special and to change this you must be working.
I personally found i was working my socks off in the 16 hrs i used to do( to struggle just as much as on income support, especially when taking everything into account), then doing my own household jobs, the only thing i got from this was a feeling of being drained physically & mentally which in turn led to feeling guilty about having no energy to take my daughter out or spend quality time with her.
Term time working is a brilliant idea, i've said this to many people before, students want the extra work during school holidays and Mothers need the time off.
There is so much more i could add but feel i've bored you all enough already, but must just say that Children didn't ask to be born and should come 1st not be pushed from pillar to post.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.xx
hi shell68
Your post isn't boring at all, and you you make some really good points.
I'm wondering if there's anyone with enough influence to do a similar documentary but showing it from the view point of busy mum's...
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Firstly apologies to any single Dads who are in this situation i should have said Single Parents not Mums. :oops:
I have been thinking about the benefit busters programmes again, 1 thing i forgot to mention and that personally leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that the companies(and their employees) who have won the contracts to get people back into work get bonuses etc the more people they get off benefits. How can they have their"clients"( the claimants) best interests at heart if they are getting paid extra for finding them employment!
Another little rant of mine for you, sorry.
I know they say we should look for positives not negatives, however the main positives i see are for the companies who have won the contracts and the government, not Single parents or their children.x
Hi shell68, nice to see you again! Thanks for your input into this topic.
I think it is a fab idea, to see a documentary showing how hard it is raising your children and providing all the emotional support they need, let alone keeping the house together, the bills paid, food in the fridge and clean clothes that fit on our children and giving them a satisfactory holiday on pennies.
What really touched me was the way you said Mothers need time off. It really made me stop and think, that as a society we don't give the respect to mothers that perhaps we used to 50 years ago. I think it was because you used a capital 'M'!
What annoyed me was when the woman said do you like being called.....benefit scroungers....lone parent...yadda yadda yadda. As if lone parent is a dirty word! And whether we all work 50 hours a week in an office, we will still be lone parents. TUT. :oops:
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Firstly apologies to any single Dads who are in this situation i should have said Single Parents not Mums. :oops:
I have been thinking about the benefit busters programmes again, 1 thing i forgot to mention and that personally leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that the companies(and their employees) who have won the contracts to get people back into work get bonuses etc the more people they get off benefits. How can they have their"clients"( the claimants) best interests at heart if they are getting paid extra for finding them employment!
Another little rant of mine for you, sorry.
I know they say we should look for positives not negatives, however the main positives i see are for the companies who have won the contracts and the government, not Single parents or their children.x
Hear! Hear!
Did you see the house the owner of that business had?
Having been a civil servant and knowing that they don't have the best paid job in the world, I'd rather see the money go to them than a private company. To think this has been done by a Labour Government too...
Hi shell68, nice to see you again! Thanks for your input into this topic.
I think it is a fab idea, to see a documentary showing how hard it is raising your children and providing all the emotional support they need, let alone keeping the house together, the bills paid, food in the fridge and clean clothes that fit on our children and giving them a satisfactory holiday on pennies.
What really touched me was the way you said Mothers need time off. It really made me stop and think, that as a society we don't give the respect to mothers that perhaps we used to 50 years ago. I think it was because you used a capital 'M'!
What annoyed me was when the woman said do you like being called.....benefit scroungers....lone parent...yadda yadda yadda. As if lone parent is a dirty word! And whether we all work 50 hours a week in an office, we will still be lone parents. TUT. :oops:
That woman spat those words out. It was clear to see that she agreed. I guess I'm being defensive here though.
Totally agree with what you say to Anna with working.
I think one parent who are a couple can feel that same sense of isolation too. I know I did, and that was with working my six nights a week! Possibly that's why it's been so easy for me on my own, as things weren't really 'that' different!
Louise's Summer holiday idea is brilliant and makes sense!
I agree with Shell68's points too. Very well put!
Back on the subject of that dreadful woman on Benefit Busters, if someone spoke to me and other single parents in my company in that manner, I know I would not hesitate to retaliate. Verbally, hopefully! I am not a physically violent person but do tend to throw myself into the fray if someone is being bullied. So far this has had positive outcomes and I know I have stopped a bloke getting stabbed on a train and a pregnant woman being beaten up by her man on the street. On both those occasions other members of the public who could have helped didn't. I feel that when an injustice is being done and where lies are being passed off as truth, more people DO need to make a huge fuss!
One thing I am noticing is that the widening gap between the minority super-rich and the majority poor means that even 2 parent families where both parents work are barely able to make ends meet. They hear about how much money non-working single parents are supposed to be getting and, not surprisingly, it makes them feel very resentful. Rather than exposing the real problems with the social system, the media have disappointingly taken the easy way out and merely scapegoat lone parents instead.
Hi,
Without a doubt a great number of 2 parent families struggle aswell, the only difference being that( as long as the partner is caring & supportive) the problem faced are shared and you have someone there to turn to and give you a break every now & then.
I am also wondering if the governments have thought this whole idea through, many single parents & families will be getting Child Tax Credit when working, add to that the Working tax credits that will be paid out plus the help with childcare costs, surely that is going to be more than the income support they currently pay.
Would love to know what anyone else thinks?x
I often think of that too shell!
That is true. If I get a part-time job (no joy so far in spite of 2 years effort), for the first year I will literally have money thrown at me. Strangely a full-time job will actually cancel out this effect. The maths do not add up!
The maths have never added up.
When i was a single parent bringing up my 5 year old daughter I was never informed of all the tax benefits and missed out on a lot of useful income, I worked full time but struggled like mad, I even sold my leather jacket one day for £5 so we could eat it was that close to the wire.
I would have been better off jacking my job in at the time but once your out of work its difficult sometimes to get back on the rung.
Hi again everyone – great to see the boards so active!
To shell68 – hiya and nice to meet you! Your situation is a slightly tricky one, but you might be able to continue with your current job, it just depends on how many hours you are able to work. Firstly, as you work less than 16 hours per week, you will still be able to claim Job Seekers’ Allowance. But it will be important when you are transferred to tell your advisor at Jobcentre Plus exactly how much you earn and how many hours you work, as this could affect your claim. Second, you have the right to continue to work part time (from 16 hours per week), and you can explain to your personal advisor that you only want to work X number of hours per week. You don’t have to accept a full time job if you are unable to work this many hours. However, you won’t be able to turn down a job if it clashes with your 5 hour per week job. You might be able to get another job which works alongside your current employment – it depends on what is available at the time. Have a look at these FAQs for more info:
http://www.onespace.org.uk/single-parents-transferral-from-income-support-to#11
Regarding childcare, you have the right to turn down a job if you are unable to find suitable or affordable childcare, but you need to prove to the Jobcentre that this is the case – for example if nothing is available at really short notice, as you mentioned. I’m trying to find out at the moment how we can ‘prove’ this – and I’ll get back to you!! For more info on childcare, check out this link:
http://www.onespace.org.uk/single-parents-transferral-from-income-support-to#19
I hope this makes some sort of sense?!?!
You’re right that the work single parents do is so often overlooked, especially when it comes to bringing up children and running a household – these things take time and effort. And, as you say, without the support of a partner to turn to when you need support, or maybe a hug. I think it’s a FANTASTIC idea to get a documentary together from the point of view of a single parent…hear hear sparklinglime!
And hello bourne – nice to meet you! Thank you for getting in on the conversation. I think you make a good point in that it’s hard to get back on the rung once you’ve been off it for a while – what do you think would really help single parents get back on the rung when they find themselves in a situation where they have to? I think that much more flexibilty is needed in that every family is different and has different needs - blanket policies often overlook so many issues.
Thanks everyone!
Sally C :)
Hi Sally
I wonder if I could put in a request? On another thread, one of our members (Rosedragon) was mentioning that as she would be moving from IS to JSA shortly she would no longer be able to train fulltime. Please can you clarify where lone parents stand in terms of study and training? if I read it right, you need to have enrolled on a fulltime course before you come off Income Support. So, for example, could someone sign up for a three-year course just before their IS ends and continue to receive IS for the three years with no obligation to look for work?
Many thanks
Louise :)
hi i'm new just joined today .My name is pauline i'm 36 single mum 2 kids 16,and a 13,.I just wanted to say something i didn't ask to be a lone parent my ex ran off with someone else but nothing said about that but if it was me the mum that left then alot would be said .so you do what you think is right and bring your children up single hand and what do you get for it everyone putting use down we can't win .And for benefits i've just had to go off income support and claim job seekers it takes 2 weeks to sort out so i've got no money until then and they couldn't tell me how much it would be.
Hello pretty32
It sounds as if you are fed up with people making assumptions just because you are a lone parent, Sadly, there is a lot of prejudice out there. You are welcome to One Space, great to have you here. Why not pop in to the other threads where people chat (for example the hello thread on "Introduce Yourself") and you can get online support and friendship :)
Hi Louise –
if I read it right, you need to have enrolled on a fulltime course before you come off Income Support. So, for example, could someone sign up for a three-year course just before their IS ends and continue to receive IS for the three years with no obligation to look for work?
I think you have the gist of the matter, yes. In order to claim JSA, you must be available for work – so, if you are studying full-time you won’t be allowed to claim JSA as you will be deemed unavailable for work. If you haven’t been moved to JSA yet and are still claiming IS, then you can study full-time and remain on IS until either:
The course finishes (or you stop attending for some reason) OR
Your youngest child reaches the age at which benefit entitlement would have ended under the rules that were in place when you STARTED the course.
It sounds a little complicated, but basically works in 3 phases:
Phase 1 – if your YOUNGEST child is 11–15 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 24 November 2008, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 16, whichever comes first;
Phase 2 – if your YOUNGEST child is 9–11 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 25 October 2009, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 12, whichever comes first;
Phase 3 – if your YOUNGEST child is 6–9 years old
• and you enrolled on a full-time course BEFORE 24 October 2010, you can continue to claim IS until you finish studying course or your youngest child reaches age 10, whichever comes first; and
• if you enrol on a full-time course AFTER 25 October 2010, you will be subject to the same rules as other lone parents and your claim to IS will end when your youngest child reaches age 7.
There is an FAQ which might help on this site: http://www.onespace.org.uk/single-parents-transferral-from-income-support-to#23
Also, this is a useful document from the Jobcentre Plus which might help to explain a few things in more detail:http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/stellent/groups/jcp/documents/websitecontent/dev_016029.pdf
I hope this makes some sense? I’ll think up some examples and post back here in a bit to make it a little clearer…
For now though I hope it’s of some use. :)
Sally C
Hiya pretty32 - welcome to the site! It's great to have you here, and thank you for posting, it's really valuable to hear your experiences of the benefit changes. You make a good point in that single parents are blamed a lot, and it's an issue that frequently comes up on this forum - especially to do with benefits. Regarding your situation, you might be entitled to a Lone Parent Transitional Loan to help you through the 2 week period without money. If entitled, you will have receive a certain amount depending on your circumstances, and will have to pay it back weekly once your JSA starts. It might be worth mentioning to your personal advisor if they haven't spoken to you about it already. :?:
How are you feeling about the transition to JSA? If you need any other information, please feel free to ask!
Hope to hear from you again,
Sally C :)
Many thanks, Sally, yes it did seem complicated to me and quoting those dates has really helped thank you.
Hi Sally
Ok, think I've got this right!!!! My change over from IS to JSA takes place next October. My son has just turned 7. If I started a course, part time next September, I can still stay on IS until the course is finished. Is this correct? The course I'm looking into lasts for a year.
It is very confusing, but thankyou for the information you are providing.
Take care
Alison
x :)
Hi alisoncam - nice to hear from you again!
OK, so this bit of the policy is quite confusing, but I'll do my best..... If you enrol on a course in September 2010 and it is FULL TIME, then you will stay on IS until the course finishes. If it is PART TIME, you will be seen as being available for work and will be moved to JSA. How many hours per week would your course be? Generally speaking, part time courses are viewed as being less than 16 hours a week. Does this apply to you?
You could maybe speak to a student or financial adviser at the college/school/uni you hope to enrol in and they could offer some suggestions. If I can get any more information for you though, do let me know.
Here are some factsheets about studying full time, which might be useful, if that could be an option for you:
http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/portal/page/portal/Website/For%20lone%20parents/single-parents-information-online/Factsheets/Money%20for%20further%20education%20students
http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/portal/page/portal/Website/For%20lone%20parents/single-parents-information-online/Factsheets/Money%20for%20higher%20education%20students
Hope to hear from you again :)
Sally C
Hi. Glad I found this site. Maybe someone can give me some information about when I'll be moved from income support to jobseekers? Sally C? My youngest child is 10 - DOB 1-2-99. On my last 2 visits to jobcentre I have asked about the PDF file that I found on the DWP website that is refered to in the reply to Louise 15-9-09 at 5.06pm. This seems to say I will be moved after my childs 12th birthday. Both times the adviser told me it would be at an earlier date. Also when I phoned the gingerbread helpline today I was told it would be at an earlier date. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Pam
Welcome. If you go to the home page and click on benefit changes, you will find lots of info. Sally C will also help with anything you might need to know.
For now, I've copied and pasted this. Not much I know.
After October 2009 single parents with children over 10 will be moved onto JS
Sorry, am not much help here.
All the best
Alison
x
Hello Pam
Sally C will be along after the weekend to clarify but I think the confusion has arisen because when the Government first introduced this, it had two ages in mind: age 12 and age 7. Then they realised they wanted to "phase it in" more and so they put the interim stage in for parents of children aged 10, which kicks in this October. But, as Sally says, you should get eight weeks notice. If you read back, Sally is also saying that you CAN continue to receive IS if you enrol on a fulltime course before 25th October.
Im worried about the changes, I have a 15 year old who has suffered with severe migraine since the age of 5 who needs constant care when he has an attack( hes ill for 3 days at a time). I am told that if I claim dla then I will not have to be looking for work. Ive tried to claim disability living allowance, but they do not see migraine as a disability, even though he get them very severely. I feel that I am under a lot of pressure at the moment, which will only get worse. I also have a 11 year old who has just started secondary school & dont feel at his age can be left at home on his own(due to behaviour ect). I have recently done some voluntary work but have had to give it up coz of my son being ill.
Just found this site today via search engine, great to find a site where other people are in the same situation.
Thanks
Hi Mickey
I can't answer your questions, but just wanted to welcome you. Migraines are truely awful. I used to suffer from them. I was put on tablets, (can't remember the name). I took one a day, and they did really help. Since having my son, I think I've only had one, touch wood. Is your son taking medication? My brother also suffered with them, and I clearly remember him bashing his head on the bedroom wall!!!!!! He is now a lot older and gradually outgrew the attacks, so hopefully your son will outgrow his.
Take care
Alison
x :)
Hi
Have you spoken to your GP about a DLA application, and whether he would support you?
I would like to know why, if you are a foster parent, you can stay on IS and not switch to JSA. It seems totally unfair to me, and I'm sure others feel the same.
Hi, thanks for the welcome, my son has been on all types of meds, he is currently on a beta blocker which I can say has helps a little but he has become very tired over the last few months and I dont know if thats his age or the medication. He also takes other medication when he gets any symptom, I really hope that he will grow out of them, but he has suffered for 10 years & I also suffer, but fingers crossed, he has been thru so much with them & I know for a fact it has made him withdrawn, although he doesnt like to talk about migraines, he like to call them headaches.
My doctor is very supportive (she specialises in them, & she suffers with them herself). I have had a number of supportive letters from her, which I have sent in with my dla application. And I have support from a groupd called Amaze which help children with disabilities & special needs.
Thanks again for your replies.
Hi mickey
I have done a reply to you on the other thread as it sounds to me as if you might not have to come off IS yet. Re your son, it is worth applying with the support of a "group" behind you such as the local Disability Information Service.
Also if you did have to go on JSA you do not have to leave your children for 40 hours a week to work, just 16, but in any case I do not think it is going to come to that
Best wishes
Louise
Hi again, I seem to worrying myself silly over this at the moment, I know I have a few months, however I want to find out all the avenues. OK, if im on jsa & get work, does it have to be over 16 hours a week ?, if I work over 16 hours a week then do I lose my child tax credit & go onto working tax credit? am I forced to look for work that is over 16 hours & if I work under 16 hours do I lose all benefit?. Also do I lose nhs free treatment ect if on working tax credit & working?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Hi,
To Sally, thank you for your info on page 3.
To Mickey,
This advice comes from personal experience when i was working 16 hrs pw( things may have changes so don't take what i say as red).
I am no expert but i think if you work 16hrs p.w.
You will get your Child tax credits & also working Tax credit( how much depends on your earnings), as for free NHS treatment you should still get this via a NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate ( working on the assumption you would be on Full Working Tax Credit), i'm not to sure how it works if you are not.
You would however have to pay a large chunk of your rent and council tax( in my circumstances it was 50-75% of my rent and all my council tax). Also you would not get Free school meals or help with Uniform etc.
I am hoping this info is correct but PLEASE do wait for a reply from Sally as she is the expert.
Hi Everyone!
Wow, a lot is being talked about right now - it's great to see people sharing all the information they have.
To Pam - Hello, nice to meet you. What Louise and alisoncam have replied to you is correct. To sum up, the changes are being phased in like this:
* From November 2008, if your children are aged 12 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work. If you are currently on Income Support and your youngest child has reached, or is soon to reach, the age of 12, you will be notified, 8 weeks before your Income Support will be stopped, of when you’ll be transferred to JSA.
* From October 2009, if your children are aged 10 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work.
* After October 2010, if your children are aged 7 and over, you will no longer be allowed to claim Income Support and will be expected to look for work.
So, in your case, you will be moved from Income Support to JSA sometime after October 2009. The Jobcentre should have been increasing your WFIs to every 3 months in the year running up to your transfer, and then you do get a letter from the Jobcentre 8 weeks before you get transferred to JSA. If you need any more info, just let me know... but hope this clarifies things a little in the meantime.
And, hello mickey - thanks very much for posting on the site, it's great to have you here. I'm sorry to hear that you're really worried about the transfer - I'll try and do my best to give you the right information you need. I need a little time to follow up a couple of points you have raised, but I'll get back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) I hope, with some solid answers. Until then...
Thanks everyone,
Sally C :)
Thanks everyone for your help. This is bad news! What was that PDF file on DWP site all about? Wonder why and when the change-over dates were changed.
Hi Sally
My son is soon to turn 7. I was told that I would have to change from Income Support to Job Seekers this October, but from what you have written, this won't happen to next year will it?
I am worried about what sort of job I will get to be able to pay for everything, and also to have the school holidays off with my son. I shall be looking into going to college, and hopefully become a classroom assistant. No way will I leave my son with anyone, (he was abused) I am extremely worried about the change, and worried sick my money will be reduced.
Alison
x