One student parent, one self-employed, childcare help!

debbie_debt

Looking for some advice for where to get childcare help.

We’ve two kiddies, ages 3 and 1. I’m self employed working full time and earning a decent income - variable but averages £2,000 a month. My husband is a full time student getting £8700 a year in maintenance loans.

Student finance say I’m earning too much for him to get the childcare grant. I can’t gwt childcare vouchers because I’m self employed and, because hubbie isn’t working, we can’t open a tax free childcare account. Ditto don’t get the 30 hours funding because he isn’t working. We don’t qualify for universal credit.

Any ideas for any childcare support we can access? Average costs are upwards of £800 a month, it’s crippling us.

Thanks!
Debbie

[Deleted User]

Don't all 2 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours free child care I know my grandson did whilst my DD was a student and her OH was earning too much for them to get the grant.

debbie_debt

venison wrote: »

Don't all 2 3 and 4 year olds get 15 hours free child care I know my grandson did whilst my DD was a student and her OH was earning too much for them to get the grant.

Sorry yes should have said: £800 a month is after 15 hours free!

sheramber

Tax Credit childcare element?

calcotti

sheramber wrote: »

Tax Credit childcare element?

Opening post suggests OP is in UC area, therefore cannot claim tax credits.

calcotti

UC is the other source of funding for childcare costs but I can see, as stated in your opening posts, that with your income, partner’s loan and childcare costs of £800 you will not qualify for anything.

Basic amount is £1,007.64 (standard plus two children) plus childcare of £680 (85% of £800) = maximum £1,687.64. Deduct student loan of approx £967 less £110 disregard = £830.64. Deduct 63% of earnings of £2000 less £409 work allowance results in nil award.

Unfortunately I think your only choice is for you and husband to arrange work and study in such a way as to reduce your need for childcare.

If your earnings do fluctuate there may be months in which you would qualify for some UC but if this would be infrequent and the amounts small I can see that you would not want the work of claiming and having to submit accounts every month.

debbie_debt

Thanks everyone for the replies, particularly calcotti for the very thorough calculations for me. Really appreciated. Unfortunately, my work takes me away from home for a week at a time about one week in 4, so there’s no option of juggling it week-to-week. So frustrating that we can’t claim one benefit because one of of works, but can’t claim another because we aren’t both employed.

Does student finance count as earnings?? Can we classify that as my partners income for the 30 hours funding??

calcotti

https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=f517cd57-3c18-4bb9-aa8b-1b907e279bf9

Your partner is not working so as far as I can see you do not qualify.

huckster

Ask your local MP to look into this.

Give them all of the details and advise them that there seems to be a gap in Government helping with childcare in this sutuation.

Perhaps the MP can raise a query with DWP ministers and gain their response.