Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Work, benefits & childcare=MINDFIELD!!

20 replies

trishiE30 · 14/08/2018 18:54

Right,

Please can anyone help... I am a single mum looking to go back to work my LO in 9 months old. However I am currently relying on universal credit and from what I have worked out so far for every £1 I earn I would have £1 deducted from said Universal credit. Not a problem. However I also have to pay full childcare costs at £50 a day. So I am going to be £100 a day worse off or there abouts... Has anyone got any ideas? I can't get a night job as it is just me and my boy 100% so I have no one to ask for help.
Any ideas as I need to get out of the house and my little guy needs to socialise.

Thanks in advance

=]

OP posts:
BitchQueen90 · 14/08/2018 19:41

Not helpful but that's the reason I didn't go back to work until DS started school. It's a nightmare. Although they didn't have the 30 hours free childcare then or I would have gone back a bit earlier.

WrongKindOfFace · 14/08/2018 19:46

You should be able to get help with childcare costs. And money isn’t usually deducted pound for pound? Have you tried putting figures through a b befits calculator? www.entitledto.co.uk/

TurtleHat · 14/08/2018 19:47

You’ll get additional benefits for childcare won’t you?
And i don’t think it reduces by £1 for every £1 earned, more like you lose 60/70p per pound earned

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Benefits Childcare & nursery Families
MingeUterusMingeMingeYoni · 14/08/2018 19:57

One of the (sadly) few advantages of UC is that some people actually get a bit more help with childcare costs than under the previous system. If you're a single mum I'd expect you to receive assistance with childcare costs unless you're going to be a fairly high earner, in which case you might want to look into the tax free childcare scheme.

WooYa · 14/08/2018 20:00

You can get up to 85% of your childcare paid for... have you looked at a benefits calculator online?

eve34 · 14/08/2018 21:53

You will get up to 85% of your childcare costs.

Uc will work out your allowance. Including child element and housing costs. Then your earning are taken into account.

If you go to the turn2us website there is a calculator to work out what you are entitled too.

Original poster
trishiE30 · 15/08/2018 09:15

Hello, its turn2us and the benefits calculators I have been using. Sadly as a single mum I don't get any extra help.... I still couldn't afford 60/70p. I just about make ends meet as it is =[
The 30 hours isn't until 2 or 3 is it? xx

OP posts:
BitchQueen90 · 15/08/2018 09:20

You get 15 free hours when the child turns 2 then 30 when they turn 3 if you are working.

But you do get help with childcare costs as a single mum, all single parents get help unless you earn a massive wage.

WrongKindOfFace · 15/08/2018 14:51

Unless you’re a high earner it’s very unlikely that you wouldn’t get any help with childcare costs as a single parent.

eve34 · 15/08/2018 15:39

I'm a single parent. I work and earn £19k per year. I get 85% towards my childcare. And I get some uc. I don't get help towards rent as I have a mortgage.

Maybe try CAB for advice.

Yecartmannew · 15/08/2018 15:55

I don't know much about the specifics but there is an error in your thinking. You won't be loosing 60/70 p per hour, you will be gaining 40/30 pence.

So if you earn £1 you might loose 70p, but that still makes you 30p better off. So for a wage of £100 per week you would be £30 per week better off.

However you need to work out if that extra 30p per £ will cover the part of the chlidcare that isn't covered by UC

Babyroobs · 15/08/2018 16:01

you've got it all wrong - earnings on Universal credit are not deducted pound for pound and you get up to 85% of childcare costs paid. If you are claiming rent then your work allowance ( the amount that is deducted before wages are even counted ) is £198, then wages reduce your maximum UC entitlement.

Babyroobs · 15/08/2018 16:03

so you have all your UC elements added together - standard/ personal element, child element and rent element. Those added together equal your maximum UC entitlement. then if you rent £198 is discounted form your wages and what is left of your earnings is x 0.63. This figure is then deducted from your full UC entitlement. if you are on a low wage then childcare will be paid at 85%.

MingeUterusMingeMingeYoni · 15/08/2018 16:09

If you're a low income single parent and you'll be working, there isn't a chance in hell UC will give you nothing towards childcare.

Original poster
trishiE30 · 15/08/2018 16:26

Hey,
Is that for a child who is 9 months old? Thanks.

Also have you any idea where I could find this info? I've been CAB, UC directly, gov.uk & the calculator websites.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 15/08/2018 16:33

It is the same for a child of any age. If you pay childcare costs you will get help as long as the childcare provider is ofsted registered. However you may need to pay the first months childcare upfront and then on UC you need to send eveidence of invoice etc to get the childcare money back.

WooYa · 15/08/2018 16:59

There's a group on Facebook - Universal Credit Help and Advice.
Someone on there should be able to help you too

WrongKindOfFace · 15/08/2018 17:38

Roughly what salary do you expect to earn and what will your childcare costs be? Will you be working full time?

Original poster
trishiE30 · 16/08/2018 16:10

I have no idea. I'm just trying to see my options.

I would love to work part time in a school.

OP posts:
Original poster
trishiE30 · 21/08/2018 11:52

thank you

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread