Any lone parents HEing?

[glenngranter]

Do hope drmechanic gets back to us - I think a lot of real home edders go through torment from the start - Mainly from LAs acting with a heavy hand -
On a lighter side: We thought of bottling 'common sense' and selling it exclusively to civil servants. Also maybe do a side line in 'sachets of true caring' may be a good idea? Does anyone out there reckon we have a chance of becominmg self sufficient on the proceeds?

[glenngranter]

Don't they make income support such a stigma in our so called caring society? - If you are a lone parent left with young ones to care for the last thing you need is a mental flogging - Get a job and leave your kids to us - Home Education then becomes impossible for most - The 'Us' then takes over a great part of our children's lives and education - While we are left behind as parasite parents - All this goes on in the face of wanton waste and corruption by our so called betters and those who claim to know what's best for us and our children - Wonder how many grand parents of our lone parent children here today served in World War 11 to enable those who rule today to rule? -

[bookwyrm]

I've been a lone parent home educator for about 12 years. My youngest son is now 16.

Last March I lost my income support and now survive on just child benefit and child tax credit. I can not sign on as I am not available for paid work. Not only do I home educate but I run a charity as well and am working constantly. I had to give up my house and move in with my mother again. Not ideal at my age! But I am neither prepared to lie to them nor to give up what I do. There is so much more to life than money.

I am looking at the HE forums again because of a letter from child benefit. The person I taked to said there had to be a title for my son's home education. A course name, or whatever. Ridiculous! This wasn't necessary when my middle son was that age, but that was 4 years ago. We kept his CB until his 20th birthday although he was at college for the last couple of years.

I have always autonomously HEed the boys. Has this become disallowed? Agravating to say the least...

Anyway, I hope there are still other lone parents able to HE now that the benefit rules have been changed to disadvantage us. I know that I used to reckon that at least 25% of HEers were lone parents. It is easier for a single person to make the decision than for two people to do so. Having a partner to convince is a stumbling block in many two parent families IMO. Although I did have to do some creative joint decision making with the boys Dad after we had already started

Stick to it, its worth it. My boys are nicer people than they would have been had they had to go through the system.

Best Wishes
Louise

[Ali Admin]

Your post got stuck in the moderation queue while I was on holiday.

The regulations on Child Benefit are often misapplied, I'm afraid. If you take a look at this post and links from one of our child benefit threads, it should help explain the position.

We have found asking MPs to intervene is an effective way of getting your eligibility confirmed and payments restored where they have been wrongly suspended. No mater how many representations home educators have made to the CB office, nothing has ever been done to resolve their ongoing failure to apply the rules properly.

[Riaz]

I'm expecting swingeing cuts in benefits for single parents in the next budget - probably on the grounds of Daily Mail style populism rather than making real savings.

[glenngranter]

A few months on from your posting - But now may be a good time to bring it back up? - Lone parents on benefits home educating their child or children? - Make the buggers work and force them to stick their kids in school whether it's right for the kids or not! - Look at what mainstream schooling has done for your country just lately! - Those at the top say our land is almost money broken - Wonder how many at the top who let this happen were home educated? - Not brain surgery stuff was it to allow people to borrow money they plainly couldn't afford to pay back? - Let's declare war on two countries in the course of sense! - Wonder how many of those who ordered such were home educated? - Maybe home ed could be a big part of a future course of sense? - Maybe the benefit given now could bring a brighter future? - Maybe single parents who home educate should be given a chance to shine? -

[Diane]

Parents should be available for their children, not available for the money-grubbers (who already have too much) to scam more out of.

Diane

[Donna]

I am a lone parent who HE and works part time. I do have the support of my mum who is home all the time, and also my son is nearly 15.
I think that if you do not have support from someone else then you shouldnt be underpressure to work. You should also not have to worry about money.

[Diane]

Couldn't agree with you more, Donna.

What is more important to people - money or people's lives?

(Well, in some cases, we can guess which!)

Diane

[Donna]

Its sad that people are put under pressure like this. Its also sad that there is no financial help if you HE. I honestly don't know how HE parents who dont work manage!