Hi,i hope somebody can help.my husband currently works 45 hours a week,it means that i have no help with my son or other children.it is getting too much as it takes an hour each way and i am on my own for at least 12 hours a day.i wanted to know if he could find a job with fewer hours what could we claim to help.also my son is due to have surgery in the next month or so,meaning hubby is going to have to have at least 3 weeks off unpaid to be with the other 2 Children while i stay at the hospital.is there anything that could help us as last year he had to have 6 weeks off unpaid,and we are still paying off the arrears on bills.thanks.

(08-05-2010 07:33 PM)chrissie Wrote:  Hi,i hope somebody can help.my husband currently works 45 hours a week,it means that i have no help with my son or other children.it is getting too much as it takes an hour each way and i am on my own for at least 12 hours a day.i wanted to know if he could find a job with fewer hours what could we claim to help.also my son is due to have surgery in the next month or so,meaning hubby is going to have to have at least 3 weeks off unpaid to be with the other 2 Children while i stay at the hospital.is there anything that could help us as last year he had to have 6 weeks off unpaid,and we are still paying off the arrears on bills.thanks.

Hi Chrissie,
Is there any chance he could use up some annual leave for a few weeks rather than 3 weeks unpaid?
Are you on tax credits?
In regards to the hours and cutting down the hours he has a legal right to ask for flexible working hours
Rather than leaving they maybe able to assist him.

hi,he did ask for flexible hours and was refused.his company won't let him use anymore annual leave as he used up some last time our son was in hospital for a week as i can't be in two places at once and the childrens hospital is about 60 miles away,the other 2 need watching.its to do with the notice you have to give for holiday.unfortunately we don't get notice of unexpected hospital visits! we are on tax credits although they have just this week finally sorted it.i'm not trying to get something for nothing i just can't go on myself like this for much longer.i have SVT myself and the meds make me feel like crap most the time.i need him home a bit more often.

(08-06-2010 05:33 AM)chrissie Wrote:  hi,he did ask for flexible hours and was refused.his company won't let him use anymore annual leave as he used up some last time our son was in hospital for a week as i can't be in two places at once and the childrens hospital is about 60 miles away,the other 2 need watching.its to do with the notice you have to give for holiday.unfortunately we don't get notice of unexpected hospital visits! we are on tax credits although they have just this week finally sorted it.i'm not trying to get something for nothing i just can't go on myself like this for much longer.i have SVT myself and the meds make me feel like crap most the time.i need him home a bit more often.

When was your son last in hospital?
Is your husbands annual leave yearly period April to April?

Do remember:

•you are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave (28 days for someone working five days a week

A full guide can be found on direct gov
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/E...G_10034642

Dont worry no-one thinks your trying to get something for nothing i am trying to see if it may have helped you more because holiday pay is a paid entitlement and some people dont think about using what they can rightfully use and lose out.

In terms of cutting down hours if your husband could find another job with less hours and less income tax credits would obviously raise.

We have the online benefit checker which maybe of use:
http://www.parentsofdisabledchildren.co....t-521.html

Its very hard when the other half works all hours and is not around and i understand that as i too had to change career when Euan was first become ill so i could be around to help Lucy.
There is help if your husband is able to find a lower paid job.

In terms of taking 3 weeks off im not sure if there would be any entitlement to anything?
Let me mull over some possible ideas and ill come back to you

thank you daniel i am just stressed at the moment.Scott ends up in hospital pretty much every other month anything from a few hours to a few weeks but is having a bad time at the minute,being the holidays is just magnifying the stress!!! thank you for your help.