Universal Credit - Childcare costs - no payment towards meals?

Gnomi777

I've just had a message from the Universal Credit (UC) team saying that meals aren't included in the payment towards childcare and that I need to resubmit my claim excluding this cost.
I've been claiming for help with nursery fees under this process since April 2021 and have never had this raised before, and the invoices have always included the cost for lunch.
Is this a new change or have they just overlooked it previously and not advised me? 

Gnomi777

To add, I've had a look on the GOV. website and it says nothing about whether meals are included, or not. The meals are provided as standard practice as part of the care during the day (although charged separately), as they've had problems with people bringing in food that might affect children with allergies.

calcotti

I can’t find any information about meals either.

marcia_

 The other government childcare schemes do not include meals. They are an extra paid for by the parents. So no reason UC would pay it. They probably overlooked it previously. 

tomtom256

Unless included seperately on the invoice, I thought it was allowable.
I am sure thats what is in internal guidance, unless this has changed recently.

calcotti

Guidance https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2022-0452/027-Childcare_costs_V21.0.pdf
says costs can cover anything included in the contract but cannot cover optional charges so whether or not meals are covered would appear to depend on whether or not they are optional.

NedS

tomtom256 said:

Unless included seperately on the invoice, I thought it was allowable.
I am sure thats what is in internal guidance, unless this has changed recently.

That's my understanding too - if the submitted invoices include a breakdown that details how much is being charged for meals, that amount should be excluded from the claim. If however there is no breakdown then the whole amount will be paid as the assumption is the whole amount is for childcare. So it depends what it says on the invoice.

huckster

Childcare providers sometimes include snacks within the childcare amounts and as part of the childcare charges, UC will pay these. 

But UC will not normally pay for meals.