Universal Credit help!

Nurse1144

Hi there, I work and I have my 2 year old twins in nursery. I have been paying £226 a month for consumables and Universal credit have been helping me with some of these costs. I have now been told that I cannot claim anything for these costs as they don't help with consumables, this means I am no longer entitled to any Universal credit so the impact is huge on my household. Has anyone been through this? These are compulsory charges so I have no choice but to pay them. Thank you 

sheramber

Are these charges for lunch, snacks. Nappies etc?

 Could  you supply your own?

Nurse1144

Yes that is correct, the nursery do not allow food coming in from the outside unfortunately

huckster

DWP/Universal Credit clarified from 1st September 2025  that Universal Credit should not include Childcare costs related to consumables.

I think this came about when DWP were in consultation with Childcare providers and interested parties about the improved Government support from September 2025. It was clarified that Universal Credit would not support parents with the consumables that were being charged for.

Before this change, it operated in a very unfair way, with some consumables being paid to parents and some not paid. If the consumables were hidden within the Childcare amount by the provider they were paid and if they were listed separately to Childcare in many cases they were not paid.

From what I understand Government did consider banning Childcare providers from including compulsory charges for consumables, but this was not implemented, as currently there is a shortage of Childcare providers. 

HillStreetBlues

huckster said:

From what I understand Government did consider banning Childcare providers from including compulsory charges for consumables, but this was not implemented, as currently there is a shortage of Childcare providers. 

From what I read, I though they were think of having a cap on consumables rather than a ban. I don't think a ban would work as the Gov made clear it just pays the childcare cost not consumables, that would leave the parents to pay (you can't expect the providers to do it free).

elsien

Although I presumably you are saving money on the food and nappies you would have if they were at home during the day? Or are you saying the nursery is overcharging on this?

The other option might seem to be find a different nursery where you can send your own stuff in, if you can find one to suit which works out cheaper. 

Grumpy_chap

HillStreetBlues said:

the Gov made clear it just pays the childcare cost not consumables, that would leave the parents to pay (you can't expect the providers to do it free).

If the child was not in childcare, the parents would pay for the consumables.
The childcare providers should (IMO) only be charging for consumables on an "at cost" basis and not making a profit on this supply. 

HillStreetBlues

Grumpy_chap said:

HillStreetBlues said:

the Gov made clear it just pays the childcare cost not consumables, that would leave the parents to pay (you can't expect the providers to do it free).

If the child was not in childcare, the parents would pay for the consumables.
The childcare providers should (IMO) only be charging for consumables on an "at cost" basis and not making a profit on this supply. 

Totally agree. Also the Gov should be providing cover the full cost of the childcare, they seem to not to pay the providers enough leading some to close others to try and make up the shortfall elsewhere.

born_again

HillStreetBlues said:

Grumpy_chap said:

HillStreetBlues said:

the Gov made clear it just pays the childcare cost not consumables, that would leave the parents to pay (you can't expect the providers to do it free).

If the child was not in childcare, the parents would pay for the consumables.
The childcare providers should (IMO) only be charging for consumables on an "at cost" basis and not making a profit on this supply. 

Totally agree. Also the Gov should be providing cover the full cost of the childcare, they seem to not to pay the providers enough leading some to close others to try and make up the shortfall elsewhere.

Would this not be what Child Benefit is for? 

Yamor

The situation is slightly more nuanced:

Childcare providers who provide childcare under the 'free hours for working parents' scheme, are not allowed to make charges for consumables mandatory - that is part of the agreement they have to make with the Local Authority.
As such, UC, which only provides for actual childcare costs, will never cover consumables in this situation.

However, childcare providers who provide childcare outside of the 'free hours for working parents' scheme (whether in a situation where there is no entitlement to free hours, or where the parents require more childcare than the free hours) can charge whatever they like, and can have a pricing model where consumables are mandatory, and included as part of the contract signed by the parents.
In such a situation, UC can include the costs, subject to the overarching rule that the costs have to be reasonable.

TimeLord1

Nurse1144 said:

Hi there, I work and I have my 2-year-old twins in nursery. I have been paying £226 a month for consumables and Universal credit have been helping me with some of these costs. I have now been told that I cannot claim anything for these costs as they don't help with consumables, this means I am no longer entitled to any Universal credit so the impact is huge on my household. Has anyone been through this? These are compulsory charges so I have no choice but to pay them. Thank you 

I think if you can provide your own consumables you can write to request to opt out.

Do they supply you a breakdown of the costs ? 

Did you also use the child care calculator?

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator?hl=en-GB