Childcare Costs Universal credit

Elema199

Hi everyone


We are currently on UC and we do claim childcare but I would like to work part time and not full time anymore.
Our child 2 yrs old attends full time nursery at the minute but I would like to ask the following: If both me and my husband together we earn more than the CET couples threshold but I work 3 days a week and my husband full time , can our child still attend nursery 5 days a week and claim that from UC or it has to be 3 days nursery because I will work 3 days? As mentioned our couples combined earnings are enough for me to be considered as full time employee  even if I work 3 days a week.
Would it be considered excessive childcare costs for any reason?

Thank you

NedS

UC have no way of knowing how many days a week you work - all they see is your earnings.

It is not unreasonable to claim for 5 days a week childcare - some providers will insist on this to keep your spot and not offer the option to drop to 3 days of childcare.

So ultimately it is going to be up to you, as long as your earnings reflect someone working the equivalent of 35h x NMW. If you are on a higher salary, you may achieve that working 3 days per week.

If it were me though, I'd be wanting to drop my days to 3 days a week to spend more time with my children whilst they are growing up, not putting them in childcare 2 days a week that isn't needed. You can never get that time back, so if you can afford to drop to 3 days per week, spend it with your children whilst you can.

Elema199

Thank you for your reply, I appreciate that!