Sometimes one has to do what one has to do to get by. There are single mothers in this country that work three jobs to pay the bills and sacrifice spending time with their children to do it. It just depends on how determined and/or desperate you are. If you're used to working 50 hours a week and are now only working 16, then you should have time to find another part time job to help fill in the gaps., even if that means working at a fast food joint until you figure out what to do about your "real" job. When times get tough you just have to reprioritize. Maybe it's time to look into another line of work, even if you'd have to start over at the bottom of the ladder.

There are things you can do:

Get a second job to make up the hours

Move to a cheaper rented property

Go and see the Citizens Advice bureau for any help you might be eligible for

Whilst your partner is on maternity leave for tax credits purposes she is counted as still being in work. Therefore if between you you work 24 hours a week then you would be entitled to working tax credits as well as child tax credits.

https://www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit/fu...

You need to get in touch with tax credits and explain your change of circumstances. They do have a strange system that they work on last year's income but if there is a substantial loss of income then they can make changes so do get in touch.

Put your details into the benefit calculator here: ww.entitledto.co.uk for a rough idea of what you may be entitled to then get in touch with the appropriate people to put in a claim (google for details)

And of course, do any part time job that you can to make up your income.

An attempt to get a better job would be your first priority, I suggest.

Contact social services to see if you can get some help from a food bank. Contact the local council to see if you can get your council tax reduced because of low income. Limit your expenses as much as possible - it's not nice to have to cut back, but you can live without the internet, mobile phones, cigarettes and alchohol - boring though it may be.

Kick yourself in the a** so you'll get off it and get yourself a better job.

Or become part of the welfare class and let others support your family so you can raise your children thinking sitting on your a** all day is perfectly acceptable.

Talking to an objective third party is a good way to gain insight into something you can’t figure out about yourself. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a therapist; it could be your spouse, a sibling, or someone else you trust.

If you are in the UK, then contact Citizens Advice as you will be able to get help in the form of benefits

Hi, my company has reduced my hours from 40 to 16 a week we have a 2 year old daughter and my partner is about to go on maternity leave.. Money is a real struggle at the moment barley have enough to buy food once ours bills are payed we live in a rented house and I'm so scared we will become homeless soon as we are struggling to meet the 550 rent, I just don't no what to do! I've let my family down I wanted more then this for them! I really need some help and advice! So please please can someone help me?