Balancing work with family is an important consideration for many people but for parents bringing up children on their own, it can be a particular concern.
Did you know?
Around a quarter of families in Great Britain are lone parent families
9 out of 10 lone parents say they want to work
Approximately 56% of lone parents are in work, compared with the national employment rate of 74.5%
More than 458,000 lone parents have been helped into work through New Deal and more than a million lone parents are now in work for the first time ever
Specialist Lone Parent advisers at Jobcentre Plus can help lone parents overcome barriers to work; discuss their situation and goals, and help them work out what works best for them and their children.
Jobcentre Plus also works closely with employers who have vacancies to fill. Advisers encourage employers to adopt family friendly working practices , for example part-time work or flexible hours so that lone parents can fit work around their childcare responsibilities. Specialist lone parent advisers can also attend employer recruitment days to help explain about benefits, tax credits, childcare and training for lone parents.
For more information, or to make an appointment to see a Lone Parent adviser, people should contact their local Jobcentre Plus. (Telephone details are available in the phone book or by using the nearest office search on www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.)
Lone Parents’ Questions Answered
Sally Sanderson is a specialist Lone Parent Adviser at Jobcentre Plus. She answers some of the questions typically asked by lone parents when they visit Jobcentre Plus.
Q: I need flexible working hours as I have no-one to look after my children after school and during the holidays.
A: If you are looking for a new job or flexible working arrangements, Jobcentre Plus can help you find alternatives to full-time work or a traditional 9-to-5 job. For example, part-time work is a good way to fit work around your family while getting experience and earning money. If you are taking part in New Deal for Lone Parents and getting certain benefits, you may be able to get help with childcare costs for up to a year if you find work of less than 16 hours per week. Your Lone Parent Adviser will give you more information and also help you to explore other options available in your local area, which might include:
Job-sharing: when two people share a single full-time job. Term-time working: being off work during the school holidays.
Q: It’s been a long time since I last worked and I can’t remember how to do it!
A: It may be that you need to consider training as a first step into work. Your Jobcentre Plus adviser can help you identify what kind of training you need and what is available in the local area. They can also advise you on any help that is available towards course fees, transport costs or the cost of looking after your children while you’re training. Training can help you to:
Develop your existing skills and abilities
Develop new skills
Get useful qualifications
Q: I can’t afford childcare when I’m working, let alone whilst looking for a job.
A: Personal advisers can give you advice about extra help with costs when you are working. The Job Grant is a one-off payment of £250 that some lone parents can claim when they start work. You may also be able to get money to pay for a week of formal childcare in the week before you start work. Once working, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit. This could enable you to claim up to 80% of your eligible childcare back.
Q: What childcare options are available to me?
A: If you are starting a new job or training, you may need to consider who will look after your children. Even if your work or training fits into school hours, you might need to make arrangements for school holidays and unexpected events. Lone Parent advisers can let you know about childcare available in your local area, which might include:
Registered childminders*
Pre-school playgroups
Nurseries
Children’s Centres
Out-of-school and breakfast clubs
Holiday play schemes
Approved nannies (England)
Extended schools (England)
A work or college crèche
Childcare Approval Scheme (England)
Friends and family
(*Registered childcare means that a childcare provider has met national standards for childcare and follows regulations.)
Q: I’m worried about losing my benefits if I start work – am I really going to be better off? A: If you work for more than 16 hours a week, you will not be able to claim Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. However, in-work support may be available, for example in the form of tax credits. Your Jobcentre Plus Lone Parent Adviser can help you look at your options and perform a ‘Better Off Calculation’ to work out how much better off you may be in work.
Q: Can Jobcentre Plus advise me on other issues relating to my personal circumstances?
· About Jobcentre Plus:
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:
· Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
1 A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
2 Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
3 Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises.
Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.
For further information:
Visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk for information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age and to search for a job online.
You could also call Jobseeker Direct on 0845 60 60 234 (or textphone 0845 6055 255) to search for a job over the phone. Their lines are open weekdays 8am to 6pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm.
Alternatively, you could visit your local Jobcentre Plus office to use the Jobpoints there. You can find the address and telephone number of your local office in the phone book or by using the nearest office search on www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.
· A: Jobcentre Plus can provide essential information on how to get advice about many situations, as we act as a gateway to other organisations. We have contact details of organisations that can help you in situations such as if you are recently divorced, if your spouse passes away or if you have additional caring responsibilities, for example a disabled family member.
About Jobcentre Plus:
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:
· Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
1 A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
2 Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
3 Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises.
Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.