I write this having read your article about the lone parents' job scheme (The Argus, February 13).

I am a single mother of two children, aged three and five, and am desperate to get back to work. I was recently offered a job which allowed me to work in school term time and within the hours my children would be at school or nursery. It had the added incentive of my being able to go to college to further my career.

I was thrilled, as there are not many job opportunities which offer this kind of flexibility.

My eldest child was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder just after his third birthday, so childcare has always been a big issue. To this end, I began the process of finding out how to go about informing the relevant agencies of my new job and my childcare needs.

My initial enthusiasm was soon dampened, though, after consulting a lone-parent adviser, who was extremely helpful and just as frustrated as I was at the situation.

I was informed that, because I would technically be unemployed during the school holidays, I would have to reapply for my housing benefit every time the children were off school - and there is a six-to-eight-week backlog of housing benefit applications.

I am currently renting in the private sector. This means that for every school holiday, I wouldn't be able to pay my rent for about two months.

I have been on the local housing authority list for more than five years, so readers shouldn't assume I am in the "poverty trap" your article referred to by choice.

For every door which opens, there seems to be a brick wall behind it. Not only am I limited by childcare options but it seems I am also restricted to certain career choices.

I would love to have the opportunity to earn enough to support my family, without Government subsidies, as, I am sure, would many others in my situation.

-Name and address supplied