Hello,
I have been made redundant 8 weeks before my second child is due.
The plan was to always continue putting my oldest daughter in nursery whilst I was on maternity leave rather than disturbing her routine and taking her out.
Now I have been made redundant and I am technically unemployed, rather than on maternity leave, can I still claim child care costs back from Universal Credit?
Here are some facts that might help with your answer:
I received 39 weeks worth of statutory maternity pay as a lump sum payment with my final salary.
If I return to work before the 39 weeks is over I have to pay my previous employer back the statutory maternity pay they paid me.
If you are claiming universal credit you can claim childcare costs if you are receiving statutory maternity pay as well. (I have already received it in a lump sum).
I have contacted Universal Credit for their input but I got a standard reply that unless I go back to work I cannot claim Universal Credit. So at this rate I will need to return to work as soon as my second daughter is born.
Thank you for your help and understanding.