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can I get sickpay to cover childcare if I am an at-home mum?

13 replies

tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 19:43

I was just told I am going to need an operation to reattach my thumb. As a mother of four kids aging 1-7 years this is an impossible situation - I need help with childcare.
Does anyone know if the gov't will provide injury allowance so I can get an au pair? I have no family or friends that can help, and have been told that it could take up to 6 months to heal.

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foxinsocks · 12/10/2007 19:45

omg where is your thumb now?

I don't know - have you asked the GP/hospital?

Do you have a partner?

You might have more luck with somewhere like homestart or a charity.

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 19:49

Hi - no I haven't lost my thumb - but the tendons have come undone inside it!! What a laugh you gave me - made me feel so much better. Things could be drastically worse couldn't thye?

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 19:51

I do have a partner, but we are pretty-much self-employed and things are ropey at the moment and we didn't earn much last year. Which is why it worries me.

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foxinsocks · 12/10/2007 19:52

aaaah yes, tis true. Your thumb is still there albeit, hanging by a thread .

I really don't know how it all works. Could you find a student (good time for it) who wants a little bit of pocket money to help out at bath time/bed time?

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 20:06

I don't know why there shouldn't be some money for help when us mum's are sick....or injured.

I wish I could sue DS4 for snapping thumb when trying to put him into the carseat! it is a work-related injury after all...

I thought about an aupair. We had one when my son was born 6 months ago. She worked 25 hours a week and we paid her fifty, but that girl could eat and eat and eat! Cost us a fortune in food.
Not to mention £200 a month - which I could take out of my child benefit at that point.
I would consider an au pair or student - but it's the nappy changing during the day that I'm worried about, baths and bed in the evening (hubby not home til 7pm).

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foxinsocks · 12/10/2007 20:08

give Homestart a call and see what they say (although I think they just do drop in visits)

maybe ask CAB about any access to emergency help?

must have been a serious bolt out of the carseat to do that to your thumb!

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 20:15

whats the CAB?
I'm in homestart already. I moved out of the catchment area and they are only offering me groups to go to now. No volunteers in my area and it's a differeent council - BUMMER!

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foxinsocks · 12/10/2007 20:16

CAB = citizen advice bureau

if you google them, it should come up with your local office

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 20:17

One scary thing is that they may have to take a tendon out of my foot to put into my thhumb - then what the h...am I going to do. Foot and hand bandaged up and no way can I use crutches or even push a buggy or drive the car - panic panic panic!

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foxinsocks · 12/10/2007 20:29

eww it's all very complicated this detatched thumb lark isn't it

poor you

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pistachio · 12/10/2007 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lizzzombie · 12/10/2007 20:38

My sister has a regular 'homestarter' who comes weekly to help her with her twins. She's gutted as apparently if she'd had triplets the council would have given her a nanny or someone to help her full time.
Give your local council a ring and see what they offer. You may be surprised. Good luck!(thumbs up!)

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tartanchatterbox · 12/10/2007 20:42

thanks Pistacio. I say all the jobseekers stuff on the internet and thought - how can I get that when I can
A/ affored childcare to work
b/ unable to work anyway!
I will phone the Jobcentre and find out about it.
The op is not until January! (NHS waiting lists) but I'm coping really well with a dodgy hand and have learnt to adapt the way I pick up the kid and drive etc. Thats why the operation and recovery: plastercast etc will be the worst and I know I'll need help.

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