Panicking - late to reconfirm childcare - what happens now?

[penniesandpounds]

I just had a huge panic attack as I realized I forgot to reconfirm my DCs 30hour eligibility. I was down with a bad cold over the last few days which is really not an excuse but it just completely slipped my mind.

It was due on the 22nd and I have just done it now 3 days late.
My friend is saying I wont get it for a certain part of the term now.

I'm in absolute panic, I rely on nursery in order to be able to work. I absolutely cannot afford to pay the full unfunded amount and I have no other means of childcare. I feel like I have literally just put my job on the line with my stupidity if what she is saying is correct.

Does anyone on here know what happens in this case?
My heart pounding and I already know I should have been more vigilant so please be kind.

I think you get a few weeks grace!

Were you in the 'Grace period' at the end of the 3 month eligibility period? If so, you should be ok. Get on to the helpline tomorrow!

You get a grace period, unless it's a new setting I think.

What is a grace period? Sorry if that sounds silly.

I first applied in October I believe as nursery wanted everything early and I was told it can take quite a while to get processed so I did it before DS turned 3 in december.

So it was exactly 3 months on the 22nd I believe.

Basically, unless the rules have changed in the last year, you get a short space of time after the official expiry date to renew. I think it is only a fortnight or so, but I’m sure that’s right. If you’re worried then give nursery a call - I’m sure they will know.
It’s a difficult time at the moment and stuff like this is easy to get anxious about - be kind to yourself, it’s a mistake that is easily made.

They are surprisingly helpful if you call them. I missed it once- they'd asked for some extra evidence as I had changed jobs and I didn't send it in time. I called and they added an extra 2 weeks grace period on and all was fine, no interruption to funding. I don't imagine they'll be especially difficult at the moment, given lots of people are likely to be unwell!

I’ve done this, rang them in a panic and the woman on the phone added a grace period and it didn’t alter the funding. She was incredibly helpful, it’s definitely worth giving them a call.

I am pretty sure I was late to reconfirm once a while ago. Like you I had a total panic about how I was going to afford childcare. I don't remember what happened exactly but I think there was a grace period and I did not lose any funding. I think it just came through as confirmed as normal. I would contact nursery for advice/reassurance. They will able to give you more reliable advice than my very shakey memory and be able to point you in the direction of who to contact for help.

You should be fine OP, as pp have said you will get a grace period within which to reapply (which it sounds like you already have done). Just to be safe, you could let your nursery know you've already reapplied and are still eligible. Has your code changed? You would need to give them the new one if it has.

If you didn't reapply, you wouldn't have been able to claim from April onwards. if your grace period started on the 22nd Jan I believe it ends 31st March, but you can double check this, by calling the childcare service helpline.

I did reapply tonight around 9pm but at 11pm I got an email saying that my funding has run out as I didn't reconfirm 😢😢😢
Does this sound like an automated message or am I done for?

I feel a bit sick.

Hi OP, what did the message say? Did it give you an end date for funding? Or did it say your funding will run out at the end of this funding period? It definitely sounds like an automated message.

Was your original application date definitely October? As long as you we're still 'eligible' (ie within that date plus 3 months) on or after 1 jan you should be fine, 3 months later means that your reconfirmation date was after 1 jan. I only ask this as you can't 'start' a 30 hours place if you are in a grace period.

On the gvt website it states that for 30 hours the grace period ends on the last day of the term you're in, Which for this term is 31 March. Tax Free Childcare (although through the same account) is different as it won't allow you to claim the top up when you're out of eligibility.

Did you try to reconfirm? You may have to now reapply which is different to reconfirming, which is time consuming but should have no different outcome. I'm not sure if we're allowed to post telephone numbers but if you google childcare service helpline that is the best number to call for reassurance!

Also, just in case this helps, the absolute worst case scenario, you will still get the first 15 funded hours. There's no application/eligibility for that as all children are eligible from the term after they turn 3.

But, from the dates you've given it seems like you should be fine, you may just have to reapply (before 31 march).

That doesn't sound right. Give them a call and check it with them again.

Good luck