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Register nowDeciding to leave your job is a significant choice, but sometimes it’s the best one. You may need to spend more time with your children or take time off to care for your own or someone else’s health. Balancing work and childcare can be challenging, especially when affordable and reliable childcare options are hard to find.
Once you make the decision to leave, there will be a lot to consider. It’s natural to feel uncertain about what comes next, but by taking it one step at a time, you can create a situation that works for your family.
This page offers practical advice on what to think about and how to ensure you’re receiving the support you’re entitled to.
Before making any decisions, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your employer. You might be able to negotiate time off or more flexible working arrangements to help you stay in your job if that’s what you want. If you’re pregnant or have recently had a baby, you have specific rights at work. Citizens Advice offers detailed information on your workplace rights.
If you do decide to resign, make sure to check your notice period – the amount of time you’re required to work after handing in your notice, which will be specified in your contract. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provides helpful information on resignation and offers a template resignation letter you can use.
When you finish your job, your employer will give you a P45 form. This document shows your tax code, how much you’ve earned, and how much tax you’ve paid. You may need this form if you’re applying for Universal Credit or another income-related benefit.
Additionally, you may be eligible for a tax refund at the end of the financial year or if you return to work, depending on how much tax you’ve paid. For more information on what to do if you’re due a refund, check here.
If you feel you have no choice but to leave because of something your employer has done, you might be able to claim for ‘constructive dismissal.’ For example, if you’re being bullied or discriminated against, not fully paid regularly or asked to make unreasonable changes to your working hours. You must have worked there for 2 years to be able to do this – and you have to tell Acas first.
One of the biggest considerations around leaving work is, of course, making ends meet financially. While you’re out of work, there are various types of support you might be able to get.
Once you know the date you’re leaving, you can claim benefits like Universal Credit to boost your income. Our benefit calculator can help you see what benefits you may be able to get.
Make sure you know how leaving work will affect the benefits you’re already getting. For example, you could find that you get less Universal Credit if you leave a job without good reason. This is called being sanctioned.
It’s important to contact the relevant benefits offices to let them know you’re leaving work. This change to your circumstances might change the benefits you can get.
If you’re getting tax credits, you’ll need to let the tax credit office know. This will most likely mean you no longer qualify for Working Tax Credit, but you should still get it for 4 weeks after you finish working. And you can continue to get Child Tax Credit if you’re not working.
The financial support you can get will depend on your circumstances. Here are a few common scenarios for single parents.
First of all, you’re not alone. This is an increasing problem for many people in the UK.
It’s worth thinking about whether there are any changes you could make to stay in work – for example, more flexible hours or taking some time off. If you have a very young child, you might find our page on paid time off with a new baby helpful. You can also contact the charity Working Families for advice on your rights at work.
If you decide to leave and claim Universal Credit, your work coach will ask why you left your last job. As long as you have a good reason for leaving, like problems with childcare, there will be no delays to your application going through. So it’s good to be prepared to explain this and be able to show that you looked into childcare options. You’ll also need to agree to actively look for work, unless your children are very young or disabled, or you’ve recently started looking after another child. See more about claiming Universal Credit when you’re responsible for a child.
If you’re thinking about stopping work to care for someone, it’s important to really think this through. Are there changes you could make at work or more support you could get that would let you stay in work? Remember that, as a carer, you can take time off to look after someone in an emergency. You also can also ask for flexible working.
Carers UK has some very useful advice, including what you can to do get more support at work.
If you do have to leave work, their Looking After Someone guide has some very useful information on the financial and practical help you can get. And if you’re looking after a disabled child, the charity Contact has lots of advice and support for families with disabled children.
If you’ve had to stop working because of an illness or disability, you may have been getting Statutory Sick Pay – and maybe also occupational sick pay. When this pay comes to an end, you might need to start claiming benefits. See our page on support if you have a disability or health condition to find out what help you might be able to get.
Date last updated: 4 April 2025
