Housing Benefit, voluntary work and childcare costs

Alleycat

Hi all,

Does anyone know if childcare costs whilst volunteering are eligible to be taken into account when working out Housing Benefit entitlement?

Thanks, Alice

nannytone_2

wouldnt have thought so. it's no different from asking them to take into account babysitting costs for a night out!

Alleycat

nannytone wrote: »

wouldnt have thought so. it's no different from asking them to take into account babysitting costs for a night out!

Its to gain the experience needed to retrain for a career in teaching after I am made redundant in March so quite a bit different to a night out!!

nannytone_2

you didnt make that clear in you OP lol.
i know if the JC+ send you on a course they pay your childminding costs. wouldnt think they would be taken into account as they arent 'income' the money doesnt stay with you, it goes to the care provider.

fluffymovie

The key for child care costs is what we call remunerative work which doesn't include voluntary work unfortunately.

nannytone_2

the question wasnt about entitlement to childcare costs. it was about childcare payments affecting housing benefit.

fluffymovie

The op asked about childcare costs and as stated, it needs to be remunerative work for hb

Alleycat

Thanks fluffymovie. Though wish it had been that voluntary is counted. Ah well, back to the drawing board! I had really hoped that rather than doing odd days here and there which to be honest a school probably wouldn't appreciate I could do a block of 4 weeks experience or at least fixed days every week which would probably help the school a lot more and be more beneficial for me learning as well.

So frustrating!