Payments to Single Mums

Far out - I can't believe you can't get a spot!

I'm in the same boat re family - my folks are in the UK, DP's dad is in a nursing home and his mum died before DD1 was born. DP's a shiftworker so the silly thing is that even if I returned to work full-time, we wouldn't need full-time hours as sometimes he's home during the day but his hours and days are so varied that we'd have to book five days childcare anyway because he's never home between 9-5pm which is when I'd be working. Custody arrangements are going to be a nightmare. He works alternate earlies and lates. Early shifts could mean starting anywhere between 4am and 7am (so generally couldn't have them overnight because he'd need to leave before childcare opened). Late shifts mean he's not home till at least 8pm which is too late to be taking them over to him for dinner/bath/bed.

Anyhow, we're going to talk on Monday. I'm not sure he's even thought how custody will work around his shifts.

It sounds like it will take bit of doing for you guys to sort it out.

It would almost be cheaper for me to get an Au Pair than FT CC and be so much of a better situation for me, but I just don't have room! LOL Maybe something you could look into?

Good luck with it all, there is a lot of red tape to get through. Make sure you call CL as soon as they open in the morning or you will be on hold forever. xx

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Can I go on and off Parenting Payment? I'd prefer to work part-time but part-time jobs in my occupation are in short supply so I may decide to take a full-time contract position for 3-6 months just to get some money in the bank. It would kill me emotionally to put DD2 into full-time childcare but I may decide to do that for a short stint if it meant I could stay home with her after that until she goes to school. But could I then claim PP after the contract ends or would it be Newstart Allowance?

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Pp until youngest is seven (unless organ parent claims primary carer stays)
There are provisions to stay on pp for up to 12 weeks when you have high income (not receiving dollars for payment but staying current at nil rate) so it distant automatically cancel when you get work.

Thanks again bg!

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