Benefits and childcare

[princessfairy]

DH recently lost his job which is stressful but he hopes to find another one soon. Prior to this DD was in nursery and we were getting the tax free childcare but now, because I work, we are not entitled to this. Which is fair enough because technically we don't need childcare as DH isn't working. We can afford to keep her in childcare (just about) so for the time being she is still attending because it suits us and her but we pay the full wack.

Several friends, however, are getting 15 hours free childcare (children are over 2) due to benefits they receive.

So I looked into getting 15 hours free but because I am working we aren't entitled to benefits and therefore not entitled to 15 hours free childcare.

I don't want to get into benefit bashing because if someone's entitled to it then they should claim it, but I can't figure out the rationale that because my DH isn't working we don't get tax free childcare, but another person who isn't working gets 15 hours free purely because they receive benefits.

Someone said it's to get the children of those claiming benefits into nursery and help them mix with other children before school but what about the children of parents who don't claim benefits and one doesn't work?

As I said, it's not a benefit bashing post but I just want to try and understand the rationale behind this and feel like I am missing something.

But the whole situation becomes counter productive when working people don’t get this facility when they need it

Dependent on their income working people can claim support with childcare costs via Universal Credit, Tax Credits, the Childcare Voucher scheme, or the tax-free childcare scheme so it's not as if they've been cut adrift without any help at all. As the child ages, less of their income will be spent on childcare and long term they will be financially better off than a family who needed the two year old funding.

Op what's the Sochi economic area you live like? Here most of the kids qualify for 15 free hours but our twins won't. I'll just make sure they mix where we can with baby groups etc. Yes it's cute they make little friend to go into nursery with but a term into nursery and you can't tell who stayed when.
If you live in a more affluent area then most of them with either be at home with 1 parent or in full time childcare, bit the point is it's likely to be a good mix.

DH can start looking for free play groups, not sure what's opening up but the library is normally free, local churches etc.

And has been said, it isn't childcare at 2, it's evening out the average disadvantage towards children in more income houses Vs more affluent homes.

It’s like people saying they don’t want children on free school meals to get them because their child doesn’t get them. Be happy that you’re not in the financial position where you have to claim them.

Or the parent who tried to say it's not fair on the other kids that my child gets a one to one in school.

Gancanny Yes that winds me up too.
My ds has an EHCP and gets one to one help and special arrangements are made for him to help him achieve otherwise he’d just get lost in the system.

Oh, and he also got the 2 year funding too because of his additional needs. And boy did it help him! He had a speech and understanding of language delay, and going to playgroup gave him the additional opportunities to learn and progress.
And now that I’m a single parent of 4, my dd will take advantage of the 2 year funding too. Should I be feeling ashamed about all of this?

I have a funded place but the place that does it does it on a case by case basis for example I dont meet the benefits criteria but because hes a bit behind on his speech they gave him a place. I'm not well off in any sense.

@princessfairy“Say she started school, her peers will have mixed with other children because their parents got TFC or 15 hours free then she will be disadvantaged.”

But she will get 30 hours when she’s 3. So when she starts school she will have had a full year in full time nursery. (Unless you earn more than £100,000).

On average children who qualify for the 2 year funding for financial reasons will have parents who are less well educated, won't give the child as many opportunities to experience ie just a walk in the countryside, holidays with some aspect of culture. Less likely to read with the child, spend time playing with them etc

yes that's an average not on an individual basis but the 2 year funding is to try to compensate for that and using just an easy financial system means it's easier to administrate.

Having no money left because you have paid all your bills, bought food and made a mortgage payment is not the same as having no money.

The other thing that frustrates me is the tax free element. I still pay tax so technically my wages are paying for childcare so get no tax breaks as I would as if I was single.

Incredible, whinging about how you're not getting freebies and you have to pay tax, when millions of people who have no children at all are paying out for yours through their taxes - schooling, healthcare, child benefit, etc.

Why are you comparing yourself to people who are obviously far worse off than you and feeling hard done by for it? Would you want to change places?

Why not focus on the positives in your life and change from such a narrow-minded and mean-spirited state of mind?