Help to get you into work

A job grant provides a non-taxable payment of £250 for lone parents. The job grant is paid to people who have been receiving certain benefits continuously for 26 weeks or more and are moving into full-time work (over 16 hours), which is expected to last for at least 5 weeks. If you have been claiming Income Support you may be able to get help towards your mortgage interest. This can be paid for the first 28 days after you or your partner start full-time work. Job Grants and help towards your mortgage interest are paid automatically.

You may also be able to get money to pay for a week of formal childcare in the week before you start work. This can help to free up your time to deal with any preparations you may need to make. It can also help you to settle your child into formal childcare before you start work, rather than on the same day.

Once you're in work, you may find that you qualify for Working Tax Credit, which could help you to hold on to more of your earnings and pay for childcare. You could get up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs back, up to the maximum weekly cost you can claim.

You can find out more about tax credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) by phoning the tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or by visiting www.hmrc.gov.uk.

In Work Credit

In Work Credit is a fixed tax free payment of £40 per week (£60 per week in London) for parents bringing up children alone. It is payable for up to 52 weeks on top of your earnings, when you start work of at least 16 hours per week.

Find out more about In Work Credit.