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HELP! Going on 5 live to talk about lone parents facing benefit cut if they don't return to work

21 replies

carriemumsnet · 30/01/2007 11:57

this is the news story.

We've been asked to take part in a discussion on Simon Mayo show and would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks

MNHQ

OP posts:

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sunnywong · 30/01/2007 11:58

Don't look him directly in the face, he's no oil painting

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Freckle · 30/01/2007 12:01

This still doesn't take into account holidays, etc. Not sure I'd be happy to leave my 11 yo (or 12/13 yo) alone all day every day during the holidays, which then places you in the position of having to find childcare. I suspect this is not easy during holidays, Baker days, etc.

Mind you, this applies to families where both parents work as well as lone parents.

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lulumama · 30/01/2007 12:09

hmmm... it seems that the most vulnerable, ie families with children with special needs will be affected most.....

government should be making sure that flexible working hours, subsidised pre & after school care is available, that the parents who really do need help are getting it, encouraging job sharing, term time, school hour compatible work

i cannot imagine that living on benefits for 10 years + is a walk in the park and the absolute majority of parents who survive this way , do it because returning to work, simply is not an option...

school is 33 weeks a year...what do you do in the holidays? not enough term time only jobs to go around...full time child care for 6 weeks of the summer hols is very expensive.....

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CheesyFeet · 30/01/2007 12:13

We struggle to afford decent childcare as a couple (dd is at nursery full time aged 2.6 and it costs upwards of £600 month. I know it's a lot more in some areas. There's no way I could afford that alone.

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Bugsy2 · 30/01/2007 12:22

Ewww, tough one. On the one hand I think it is a bit of a luxury not to work, but on the other hand I think that is a completely different story if you are looking after disabled or special needs children or adults come to that.
I'm a lone parent & I work - it never occurred to me not to. However, I am fortunate enough to be in a position to earn enough to make it worth while.
I cannot see how cutting benefit & forcing women (as they are usually the lone parents) into low paid jobs, often with unsociable hours, can be good news for anyone other than the Government in trying to reduce their expenditure.
Sorry, that is probably not very much help Carrie.
I would want to know how the Government are going to improve before & after school childcare & what they are going to do to encourage employers to offer better part-time positions before I signed up for any reduction in benefit to lone parents.

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bandstand · 30/01/2007 12:24

from my experience child care finishes at aged 12? then it's a whole new ballgame in the hols, already said i think

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expatinscotland · 30/01/2007 12:26

In addition to affordable childcare, there is the issue that not all professions are M-F, 8-5. This is increasingly so in our 24-hour society and in many skilled and unskilled professions.

So what's a lone parent to do if they want to be, say, a nurse - not a 8-5 job?

Employers are not compelled to or given incentives to offer more flexible working conditions - something that would have the added bonus of cutting traffic congestion and pollution - so they don't.

There's the crux of the matter, in addition to unaffordable, too traditional childcare (8-6, M-F only).

Also the issue of no wrap around benefits.

It costs a packet to live in this country.

You go out to work, let's say you get a skilled secretarial job that pays £16,000/pa gross - NOT uncommon at all in the UK.

You lose all your housing and council tax benefits.

Well, it doesn't take a genius to determine you're better off on benefits.

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expatinscotland · 30/01/2007 12:27

Tesco only wants applicants who are 'flexible'. In other words, can work anytime.

For minimum wage.

This is the reality for a low-wage, unskilled earner.

Tell me how a lone parent is supposed to do this?

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expatinscotland · 30/01/2007 12:28

Why does the Labour government increasingly bully the individual, but NEVER big business?

Government by target.

There's a stupid idea.

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Caligula · 30/01/2007 12:29

Carrie, have posted all my comments on the other thread.

Can someone post a link?

What time is the discussion?

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uwila · 30/01/2007 12:30

I can't understand why the parent of an 11 year old doesn't have time to go to work. I can understand that mum/dad might need to be home by 3:00 (6:00 if there is an afterschool club).

We should enable people to go to work. We should not encourage them to stay on benefits for years and years and years.... in fact when does it end? I mean if you stay on benefits until your kids are grow, surely you are not prepared to enter the workforce.

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LIZS · 30/01/2007 12:30

Need for more flexible work opportunities -limited hours, working from home - to allow for school pick ups, school holidays (or more childcare provision to cover) and sickness. More daytime, low cost or free, vocational training courses required to brush up rusty skills and learn new ones and careers advice/support.

Agree ,as a SAHM now with school aged kids that I could also benefit from such practical changes .

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nutcracker · 30/01/2007 12:31

It woulld have to be like someone on jobseekers who is looking for work surely ?

What I mean is, if you were looking for work and could prove that you were then your benefits would continue.

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Caligula · 30/01/2007 12:31

Perhaps if you go through a family break up when your child is 10 or 11 Uwila, or get to know someone who does, and see the effect it can have on some children, you will understand why a resident parent may not have "time" to go to work at that stage.

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lulumama · 30/01/2007 12:32

there you go caligula!

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expatinscotland · 30/01/2007 12:33

B/c, uwila, too few jobs are flexible enough for them to work during school hours, work from home, stay home when the child is ill, school holidays, etc.

There is little to NO flexibility in work schedules.

A move that would also help hte environment by cutting congestion.

Every now and again someone will suggest staggering work times, but no one's listening.

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uwila · 30/01/2007 12:34

Oh and...

AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE

When is the government going to acknowledge that the real cost of childcare for two young children (and some people have more than 2 children) runs roughly £2000 per calendar month.

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lizziemun · 30/01/2007 12:38

I'm not a single parent but we have just been looking into me reurning back to work, once we took into account cost of childcare, having to get a second car and all the costs of running it and the salary i could earn it just isn't worth it as i would be earning pennies.

Now add the fact they will have to pay full rent, council tax it just isn't feasably (sp).

I just don't think the goverment haven't thought fully about the costs.

I don't think most single mum's want to be on benifits forever they just don't have a choice.

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Bugsy2 · 30/01/2007 12:47

But it can be feasible Lizziemum - I do it & so do other single mums. I do however, agree that before benefits are cut more support should be provided.

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CheesyFeet · 30/01/2007 12:48

I have really struggled to find a job that fits in around traditional childcare hours (8-6) which I need as dh is often away with work. I was lucky, I eventually found one with the right hours earning enough money to cover childcare, transport costs and the cost of work clothes etc. It took a long time and I have a degree and lots of experience in my field on my side. Others aren't so fortunate. I went to so many interviews and fell at the "how flexible can you be with your working" hurdle. So I have some understanding of how difficult it can be.

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carriemumsnet · 30/01/2007 13:50

Well didn't actually get the chance to say much - had lots I wanted to say but as I wasn't in the studio it's hard to butt in. Thanks as ever for your input though.

MNHQ