I think there are a couple of ladies on here with postman oh's, and I wanted to ask some advice if I may!

When we come back to England, my OH has been offered a job at the post office (I think it would be sorting/delivery) It's a zero hour contract, covering vacations and sick leave. I'm intending to work part time until bubs is born, but OH will be the main earner. Do you/your OH's know if a zero hour contract would provide enough work to support us, especially as we'd be renting our own flat? (We won't be eligible for any benefits as my OH isn't British).

Also, he's worried about his level of English, I think he's pretty good, but obviously he'll need to understand his boss' commands etc, and understand the addresses on the mail, and he's asked me to ask you what kind of English/commands he would need to know (sorry , I know thats such a tough question - his English isn't perfect, so he worries about these things)

Thanks so much if you have any advice, he's so nervous and convinced we won't have enough to live on, and I'm trying my best to convince him it will all be fine!

I cant help with the postie stuff...but are you sure about benefits? You yourself with Milo will still be eligible - are you married?

As for it being a zero hour contract - thats a tricky one cos he may have no work some weeks, and a full week others - so its hard to say whether you'd have enough just on that or not?

Yes, for our sins, we are properly married!

Well, I think it's odd that I wouldn't get any benefits considering the fact we have children too, but one of the conditions on the visa application is that you have to be able to show that you can support yourself financially without any help from government money I can see their point otherwise everyone would be claiming benefits ... but at the same time, I'm sure people who've immigrated claim benefits so it's all very confusing. Maybe it's to do with it being a marriage visa? Who knows.

That's the worry with the zero hour contract. My BIL is offering the job, and my sister seems to think it will be enough hours to survive, and there's always lots of work available so I just wondered what other postie people found Thanks chick! xx

Bizarre, you are still a British citizen though? Is the visa just for your OH, maybe they mean he cant claim, but that shouldn't mean you cant.

I think Lisa is right, if you are a British cizifzen you should be able to claim for yourself and milo

I don't know anything about the postman stuff but I'm sure it will all work out x

No clue hon though hopefilly Jo or Suse will be on later but at least you should get tax credits and child benefit like every other british mother and once over here id get to CAB to be sure cos even the 80 a month CHB will do you favours

Oh and good luck. xxx

Sorry hun, Simon is a postman but he's been doing it for 13 years and this zero hours contract thing is fairly recent.

I wish I could give you more advice, sorry. xxx

You will defo be able to get child benefit even abroad it is possible to claim it.

I'll ask my friend Martyn for you huni, he's a postie and has been for a while (years and years). I'll ask him what he knows xxxxxx

Can't help with the postman bit but a friend of mine is married to a Turkish man and they have two children but can't claim anything! I'm not sure why as it doesn't make sense to me but she complains about it quit alot as she would be entitled if they weren't married.