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Checklist for lone parents returning to work for 16 or more hours a week
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Help with moving into work: a guide for lone parents
A New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Adviser can help you with many of the following as well as provide support once you start work - see under Help if you are thinking about work or training.- Do you know what your total household income and extra expenses will be once you start work? See above for how to get advice about whether you will be better off in work.
- If you need childcare in order to start work, get in touch with your local Children's Information Service. Your New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Adviser can give you details; alternatively contact Childcare Link on 0800 096 0296.
- If you are receiving benefits, contact Jobcentre Plus to tell them the date you are starting work. Make sure you receive any extra payments you are entitled to - see Financial help when you move from benefits into work.
- If deductions were made from your Income Support to pay your bills directly, you will need to make new arrangements to pay any arrears owing. The amount of the repayments may go up.
- If you are repaying a Social Fund loan you will need to make new arrangements for repayment (for example, by standing order). The amount of the repayments normally stays the same.
- If you are repaying an overpayment from your benefit you will need to speak to Jobcentre Plus, or the local authority if it was for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, about how you will repay the balance.
- If you are already receiving Child Tax Credit, ring the Tax Credits Helpline (see Further help and information) and tell them that you are starting work so that you can be paid Working Tax Credit as well, including the childcare element for help with childcare costs. If you are not receiving Child Tax Credit, make a claim for both tax credits.
- Check if you will be entitled to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit paid by your local authority. If you were already receiving either of these benefits, tell them that you are starting work within one month to prevent there being a break in your claim. Complete your new claim form within 14 days of starting work and your claim will be given priority.
- If you receive Child Tax Credit and your income is below £15,050 a year (rate for 2008/09) or you receive a disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit, you are entitled to free prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests and vouchers for glasses and fares to hospital. If you do not automatically qualify but are on a low income, you may still be entitled to help with some of these costs - claim on form HC1 available from Jobcentre Plus offices.
- If you are the only adult in your household make sure you are receiving the 25 per cent discount on your Council Tax.
- If you are not receiving child maintenance, consider applying to the Child Support Agency to assess and collect child maintenance from your child's other parent. Any child maintenance paid to you does not affect the amount of tax credits you may receive.
Next page: Further help and information
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