Childcare help

kirsty_baird

We were advised when we both began working (fiance on minimum wage 42.5 hours a week), myself 15 hours a week that we would be entitled to 85% childcare.

This is now the third month we haven't and are only getting some paid. My assessment period is from 15th month to 14th October we pay his nursery on the end of each month which is £501.79, they only paid us £123.64 this month. We had to borrow the money to pay it last month from my parents and now iv no idea were going to afford it each month. The problem is my shifts in work are 11-2 each day so he needs a full day in nursery.

Can anyone advise?

poppy12345

kirsty_baird said:

We were advised when we both began working (fiance on minimum wage 42.5 hours a week), myself 15 hours a week that we would be entitled to 85% childcare.

This is now the third month we haven't and are only getting some paid. My assessment period is from 15th month to 14th October we pay his nursery on the end of each month which is £501.79, they only paid us £123.64 this month. We had to borrow the money to pay it last month from my parents and now iv no idea were going to afford it each month. The problem is my shifts in work are 11-2 each day so he needs a full day in nursery.

Can anyone advise?

The issue could be the hours you work and the amount of time your child is in childcare. I'm no expert but my thoughts are DWP decision maker could have decided that it's excessive childcare charges based on the amount of hours you work. Others will advise further i'm sure.

See link. https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/childcare/universal-credit/how-much-can-i-claim

Excessive costs

The amount of childcare charges you can claim can be reduced if a DWP decision maker thinks that those charges are excessive when looking at the amount of paid work that you (and your partner) do.

kirsty_baird

I spoke to my case manager before taking the job and was advised that it would be fine and it would be covered based on what I was going to be working

kirsty_baird

Also due to the hours I need to work being in the middle of the day there is no other option but to pay the full day cost as morning session ends at 12.30 as it falls in the middle of the day. 

kirsty_baird

I have looked back through my journal and there is a message from my caseworker stating I should get 85% of childcare covered. This has been confirmed with 2 different case workers. 

welshmoneylover

So you want a full time fee for a part time job? I don’t think the system works like that but someone else may come along to correct me.
can you up your hours in work to justify it?

[Deleted User]

welshmoneylover said:

So you want a full time fee for a part time job? I don’t think the system works like that but someone else may come along to correct me.
can you up your hours in work to justify it?

 Id agree with this. A case worker has probably decided the fees are excessive when you only need care 15hrs 

calcotti

welshmoneylover said:

So you want a full time fee for a part time job? I don’t think the system works like that but someone else may come along to correct me.
can you up your hours in work to justify it?

It's not the OP's fault if their shift straddles two sessions at the nursery so they have to pay for the full day.

kirsty_baird

I lost my job in at the end of March and been lucky enough to find work in the middle of a pandemic so to be honest I'm grateful just now for the 15 hours im managing to get so sorry but I think that's a bit cheeky to assume I want these hours. Before I worked more hours in a job the past 15 years. I have taken a job which at this current time im grateful to have been able to secure as I didnt want to sit at home and not work and I looked tirelessly since losing my job despite not having too during the virus applying for hundreds of jobs. I will when things improve be able to get more hours but due to shifts being staggered due to the virus im only allowed my current hours.

kirsty_baird

Iv also applied to get my son into council nursery since losing my job which I had him down as private to suit my previous work as worked before 9am. I am unable to get him moved until at least August due to hours and bubbles due to the virus

calcotti

You really need to post a query on your UC journal or ring the helpline to request an explanation. We are speculating. Have you checked your statements an messages to see if there are any notes on how the costs have been treated?

To be clear, when you said you were only paid £123.64 were you referring to the childcare element or is this amount your whole UC payment?