Just want to sense check something - things like childcare benefit are worked out based just on income right - they don't take into account the fact that your income may be higher because you are a contractor and therefore theoretically are being paid more to cover no leave entitlements etc???

I am trying to work out what to do post July - and DS is sick with hand foot and mouth - and has really brought home to me the issues with contracting - e.g. if I don't work I don't get paid but still have to pay for the childcare (As this week is short week due to Anzac looks like DH can take tomorrow and probably Wednesday off, and he already had Thur Fri off so not too problematic this week). So now I am trying to work out whether I would be better off being permanent (if I could get that) - overall income would be less but then would get some/more CCB plus get entitlements more security etc - or how much more I should try get if I do another contract - to make sure I am covered for these things.

On average how many days do you think you or your DH takes off a year due to child sickness? I reckon 5 between us per year so far (all with HFM!), but a friend said that seemed low?

I understand there are different ways of contracting - and at the moment really I am just like a PAYG through a contract house because that was quickest/easiest at the time - but maybe I should have done it differently.