Providing Childcare as an Unemployed Parent: Immediate Steps to Take

While it might seem like you are the sole sufferer of the unemployment or cashless phase, it is the opposite. It is tempting to keep the news under wraps from your kids, but you must understand that- Unemployment affects the family as a whole. You may be right in hiding things from your kids out of genuine concern. What if they discover it out of nowhere?

Each family member plays an important role in carefully analysing and undergoing the phase. Being in between jobs could prove stressful for your kids compared to having regular employment. Studies show that long-term unemployment can impact a child’s happiness, and grades may decline.

Thus, you must be vocal about it to your kids and seek ways to improve the situation.

If you need help with how to take care of your child while unemployed, the blog may help.

How To Manage Child Expenses When Unemployed?

Unemployment is challenging under any circumstances, but when you turn out to be a parent, it becomes more challenging for obvious reasons. Child’s expenses are not limited to educational but personal too- (doctor visits, books, stationery purchases, uniform, unexpected purchases), etc.

 However, it is just a phase of life, and anyone can encounter it. If you keep yourself updated, you can easily manage in-between the jobs until you get a fixed one. Here are some ways to deal with money issues and childcare expenses:

1) Tap into tax-free childcare

Tax-free childcare is, however, only for working parents. It implies self-employed or freelancers may also qualify for expenses like-

• Registered nannies
• Breakfast, after-school playschemes
• Homecare workers working for a registered agency

You can use tax-free childcare as:

• Universal credit
• Tax credit
• Child care vouchers

You must earn at least £152/week on average to qualify. And have no more than £100000/year as income.

2) Explore assistance programs

If you lose your job, you must file for unemployment benefits. Facilities like child benefits can help you cover the costs. You get it every 4 weeks. You may qualify if:

• You are solely responsible for the child
• Your child is under 16 years or 16-20 years enrolled in training.

Other programs you can tap include:

a) Working tax credit

To get the working tax credit, you must have a low income and work at least 30 hours a week (25-59 years of age). You must work 16 hours a day to qualify if you are below that. Apart from that, the child must be below 16 years of age or eligible for disability.

Be mindful that you cannot leverage working tax credit along with a tax-free childcare facility.

b) Job seekers Allowance (JSA)

You can apply and get it if you are out of work and working for less than 16 hours a week. To qualify, you must:

• Be actively looking for work
• Available for full-time work
• Not claiming any other income support
• Have an illness or disability that states that you cannot work or your physical condition does not allow you to.

If you meet the conditions, you may claim:

• £61.05/week- if you are aged 18-24
• £77/week- if you are 25 or over

3) Run rentals

Unemployment should never impact already owned assets- like property. If you have a property or sufficient space in your home to rent, run rentals. Individuals in the UK always search for the best and most affordable rentals.

You can easily make for your child’s expenses and leverage the benefits mentioned above if you provide one. It would help you exercise more flexibility in managing other important expenses.

While the things that may be the cause of worry here is – updating the property for rentals

If the property only needs a small touch-up, check for the available savings.

Are you out of the last possible penny?

Now what?

Will you lose the chance to help ensure your child’s happy childhood and future?

No! When you are so concerned, there is a way out. There are multiple possibilities in the UK’s financial markets. You can explore guaranteed loans for the unemployed from direct lenders assisting at personalised terms.

These loans, as the name suggests, are guaranteed. You may get a small amount and prepare the flat to rent even when you are unemployed. To begin with, you need to ensure repayment calibre. It is one of the best ways to counter unemployment and ensure a smart move to generate wealth.

4) Master the art of Networking

Networking is crucial whether you are starting a business or looking for job opportunities. Spread the word among your friends and family and update your portfolio. Connect with people online and showcase your expertise in the subject matter. It would help you garner good clients if working as a self-employed.

It is helpful even if you are looking for a full-time job opportunity. However, you must ensure an updated CV and cover letter demonstrating your skill set. Identify the potential in the job opportunity or proposal offered. Please do not give up in the wake of finding another good opportunity, especially when you need it the most.

Sometimes, individuals require a proper setup to qualify for the job. Amid the unemployment blues, you may have lost access to software or related subscription. If it is something that could be a game changer in your job-seeking experience, you must buy that.

How do finance something that could re-trigger your job fetching prospects?

Whether it is a software, laptop, or whole work-from-home PC setup, you must immediately start if you are confident about your skills. Check out for the familiar external sources on less-than-ideal credit scores. Unemployment crushes one to the brim.

However, you could exercise your dreams with Installment loans for bad credit in the UK marketplace. 

These loans can prove a game changer- whether you want to start a business or improve your career prospects with vast networking skills. Pick a suitable loan tenure for your affordability and credit issues and rationalise the dream. Regarding children, nothing should prevent you from ensuring a bright future. It is one of the ways to fund your and create a base for your child to fly. With easy and affordable installments, you can use the time to fund your business or fetch a good job opportunity. 

Bottom line

These are some major steps to ensure a protective and secure future for your child in the unemployment phase. You can tap other ways, like liquidating your investments and dividends to fund your child’s small requirements. Unemployment is a phase; it must not blacken your career and finances.