Caring for a child if you are a single parent isn’t an easy task but if you are caring for a child on your own then there are several ways you can get help and support, you may also be entitled to help with costs for child care if you are working or want to return to work. Benefits you may be entitled to claiming are:

• Child tax credit
• Working tax credit
• Child care allowance

Child tax credit

You can claim for this benefit if you have one child or more regardless of whether you are working or not, if you have a child under the age of one year old you will receive a higher payment or if you have a child who is disabled.

Working tax credit

You may be entitled to claiming working tax credit if you have a child and work at least 16 hours per week and this benefit is paid in addition to any child tax credit that you may be entitled to. The amount you are entitled to will vary depending on the hours you work or the amount of money you earn.

Child care allowance

If you work more than 16 hours per week and are entitled to receiving working tax credit then you are automatically entitled to help with child care costs, the amount you will be entitled to is up to a maximum of 70p for every £1 a week spent on child care costs.

There is an allowable spending limit for costs on child care per week; this is £175 per week if you have 1 child and £300 per week if you have 2 or more children. You could be entitled to claiming back up to 70% of these amounts.

Other ways you can get help and support

Being a single parent doesn’t only mean that you need financial support but also help with day to day living, bringing up a child alone can leave you drained with not much time or energy left for a social life. There are however ways that can help ease the stress and strain of single parenting, listed below are some tips:

• Take any help that is offered by your parents, other relatives or friends – see if anyone reliable and trustworthy would be willing to care for your child even if only for an hour so you can have a little time to yourself. Even if you don’t leave the house a long hot soak in the bath or just some time spent apart from your regular routine can make such a difference.
• Single parents support groups – These are generally held in community centers and are for single parents and their children, usually the meetings will have a crèche which will be run by volunteers and you can leave your child in the crèche which will be in the same building. Here you get a chance to meet other single parents and have coffee and a chat and just generally relax in the company of other adults.
• Church nursery groups – Often your local church group will have a crèche or nursery for young children below school age, these are usually run by volunteers from the church and they will take your child for a couple of hours for a minimal fee.
• Shopping center crèches – Most large shopping malls will have a crèche which is run by staff trained in child minding, most will have an age limit, although they can be expensive. Also, most will not take young babies, but this will allow you to shop for a couple of hours without the hassle of a child in tow.