Income

Hi all

Just wondering where you single mothers get your income from. I am about to go it alone, and just trying to find out what I will be entitled to and from where.

From what I understand the options are:

DPB + Accom supplement (is there anything else you can get?)

or

Income from part time job + WFF (if working more than 20 hours) + child support.

My youngest has only just turned one, and my other son is 3, so 20 hours a week seems a lot to me. What is everyone else doing?

I also work about 30 hours a week so get my income (self employed), child support and childcare subsidy. Im not sure if I am entitled to WFF because my income fluctuates quite a bit so I am enrolled, but will wait until the end of the year to see if I get anything.

My accountant said there are so many different options out there, but even he doesnt know them all. There are some from WINZ, others from IRD but (surprise, surprise) they are not very well known or advertised so alot of people don't end up claiming what they are entitled to.

I work between 27.5 and 30 hrs per week and also get WFF, child care subsidy and child support. I have a flatmate too which brings down the cost of my accomodation.

i have been working 40 hours since DS was 5 months old.So i get wages, WFF, childcare subsidy and child support.

I was on the DPB for about 2-3 months and used the additional support for a bit to get me on my fit and got WFF.

blossom - one thing you forgot to say is that with the IWTC, you can only get it if you work over 20 hrs per week plus don't get any form of benefit top up. You cannot be registered for any kind of benefit (even if you're not actually getting paid anything) and receive the IWTC.

Thanks for the info everyone.

I am going to try and get a part time job in order to get the in work tax credit too. I live in a small town so that is kinda hard as there aren't too many jobs going.

I am really worried about my youngest son, and how he will cope going to preschool. But needs must.

DH (hmmm, maybe I should remove the 'D') has found a place to move to, and will be moving out next week. I have been wanting it to happen for a while now, but now that it is actually happening I am feeling so sad, and sick with worry. I am a mess.

How are things going, newme??

Well I think that WINZ WFF and all of them suck, recently separated but husband left me with the lifestyle block that is not actually worth the $500K mortgage that is on it and because I own it and it is more valued at $500K even though the mortgage is $500K I don't get diddly squat! So have had to get a 2nd job while being pregnant with 2nd child and ex has kindly opted to pay $1000K towards mortgage per month but WFF take that as my income and so don't even get accommodation. Sucks because I have paid my taxes for the last 15 years never been on any benefit and when I need it the most I can't get anything! and with the money form my ex it puts me out of for the daycare subsudy..... Will have to sell property and take the loss and move back home then I might get something. Not happy at the moment.
Hope you have better luck than me.

Totally with you on this! Was earning really well when I was on my own and then lost the ability to work due to injury on job that ended up costing me thousands (farming - moving costs and paying bills for boss who was overseas that should have been reimbursed). Had a loan for $30000 and had a credit card which was clear, but racked it up to $10000 over 6 months while ACC buggered me around investigating whether they would pay the 80% wages even though my injury was covered and recorded, 2 doctors, an osteo and a surgeon wrote to them, but got nothing from them and WINZ wouldn't help at all until ACC declined which they wouldn't until they finished investigating so no income for a year. For 6 months of this time was pregnant and was lucky people gave me rent, treatment and food. WINZ then wouldn't give me a cent until I had "exhausted all my other options". So I had no assets, no income and was injured but they wouldn't give me anything because I had a well paying job previously.

FINALLY got help once baby was born but due to all the debt I now have I can barely afford enough to scrape together for food and I have sold absolutely everything I own bar her cot. Tried to work to make bills and they deducted benefit and secondary tax along with kiwisaver and SLoan and I ended up $100 worse off for 3 weeks. THE SYSTEM JUST DOESN'T WORK. I can't afford to work but I can't afford to live and pay all my bills on what I am getting either...