Universal credit and childcare!

[stucky]

Morning all. I’ve just formed out over £300 to secure childcare over the holidays only to be told that I’ll get 85% back in two payments. I paid on the 13/07 for childcare for three days a week from the last week of July until the end of August.

I’ve been told I’ll get a small payment on the 9th of August and then the remainder on the 9th is September (roughly £250). As a single parent I can’t afford to lose that money and I can’t afford to not work. I literally don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

Does anyone have any advice? I’m a keyworker so I need to work but it’s going to be so stressful, trying to provide my son with uniform etc without that money. I feel really stitched up.

Why stitched up? They do back payments for childcare. So they are paying you in August for your July payments then in September for your August. Just be thankful it is being paid back most parents just have to grin and bear it. Surely this isn

Be thankful you’re getting it back, you have the bulk of child. Care costs paid for you. For most, it’s an expense they have to pay themselves for having children.

It’s 7 weeks between the date I paid out the date I get the money. Maybe I should be grateful as you say but It’s half my wages from July and a quarter of my whole income for this month. So after bills etc I’m left with around £200 for food and everything else.
Yeah you guys are right lots of people do have to grin and bare the expense but I’m a single parent with a chronic Health condition trying to provide of my family. I wasn’t really asking to be judged more asking if other people in my situation had any advice. Wasn’t looking to be belittled. Thanks for your help

It’ll only be paid at the end of the assessment periods the childcare took place. This is because other checks may be done during that assessment period etc.