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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - this universal credit cannot be right?

66 replies

Efilio · 05/08/2021 19:16

I am a lone parent (live alone, no partner). I get no spousal maintenence and work 30 hours a week and earn about £1,500 a month. I have 2 children age 2 and 7. Childcare bill comes to between £500 and £700 per month. Children only go to childminder / nursery so that I can work. My universal credit is £305 - £358 per month (it varies). On the break down of costs it doesn't say anything about my childcare component even though I always upload the invoices from the childminders/ nursery and the bank statements showing I have paid. AIBU to think I have been underpaid? I read today that it pays 85% of your childcare! But it pays nothing like this amount. Thank you for reading!

OP posts:
thinkingaboutitall · 05/08/2021 21:57

Is the decision maker an actual person?? How many cases do they hold...?

Yes and I think 100s of claimants, with 100s of active to-dos they need to look into. There’s a definitely a backlog with them.

If you don’t have a work coach, definitely direct all your messages towards the “payment” journal option. Literally no one will read your journal messages otherwise

Original poster
Efilio · 05/08/2021 21:58

@BanginChoons

You may find you are better off not claiming the tax free childcare, and claiming through universal credit instead.
Yes the lady on the Gingerbread helpline said this too... Incredible really that this is the state of affairs where you need to be "in the know" to save money.
OP posts:
Original poster
Efilio · 05/08/2021 21:59

@thinkingaboutitall

Is the decision maker an actual person?? How many cases do they hold...?

Yes and I think 100s of claimants, with 100s of active to-dos they need to look into. There’s a definitely a backlog with them.

If you don’t have a work coach, definitely direct all your messages towards the “payment” journal option. Literally no one will read your journal messages otherwise

Thanks this is really helpful to know x
OP posts:
ListenLinda · 05/08/2021 22:04

I wasn’t aware you could claim tax free childcare and UC, I always assumed it had to be one or the other.
If they are paying back the childcare, it would clearly state it on your break down so it seems you haven’t been getting it.
Ring them at 8am tomorrow and talk to someone. They are helpful when you get through. I had an issue with part of my childcare this month too, called them and it was sorted within the hour.
Good luck OP, hope it get’s sorted.

ThinWomansBrain · 05/08/2021 22:07

my net salary is £1447, but "earnings reported by your employer"
Is the difference between the two the child care voucher deduction?
They would probably only count statutory deductions - Tax and NI, possibly pension for "Net Pay"

Original poster
Efilio · 05/08/2021 22:12

@ThinWomansBrain

my net salary is £1447, but "earnings reported by your employer" Is the difference between the two the child care voucher deduction? They would probably only count statutory deductions - Tax and NI, possibly pension for "Net Pay"
No, it is a totally random figure Confused I didn't get any expenses either that month which would account for it. It is very strange!
OP posts:
chasegirl · 05/08/2021 23:01

UC cannonly disregard tax, NI and pension contributions from your pay so if anything else is deducted from your pay(student loan/union etc) it won't be disregarded. Do you have anything else taken off? Are you paid monthly or 4 weekly?

How long was it between uploading screen shots of bank statements and then uploading invoices? If it was more than a month they may not accept the child care costs claim.

Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:04

The 85% of childcare paid in your assessment period is paid as another element of UC then the whole award is reduced by wages after your work allowance is applied.
If your childcare element is not listed there on your statement then something is wrong and your award is not correct.

Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:07

So your statement should say standard element £411.51 ( assuming you are over 25 ), children's elements £519.58. Then there should be childcare element ?

Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:11

Based on earnings of £1500 a month and childcare of £700 a month and assuming you don't pay rent, you should receive Uc of approx £900 a month.

Original poster
Efilio · 05/08/2021 23:17

No I don't pay rent, I pay mortgage along with my ex whilst we are waiting for our family marital home to be sold. I have no savings. Yes I am over 25 (by quite a lot, unfortunately LOL!). Would I get less if I was a younger mother? That doesn't seem fair.

I am paid monthly

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 05/08/2021 23:21

@Efilio you are not claiming tax free childcare. You have childcare vouchers which are completely different and CAN be used in conjunction with UC.

Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:21

@Efilio

No I don't pay rent, I pay mortgage along with my ex whilst we are waiting for our family marital home to be sold. I have no savings. Yes I am over 25 (by quite a lot, unfortunately LOL!). Would I get less if I was a younger mother? That doesn't seem fair.

I am paid monthly

Yes under 25's get less standard element. If the equity from your house sale is being put into another property I think it can be disregarded for 6 months maybe.
Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:22

And people whose child was born after April 2017 get less child element even if it's their first child. People with children born before April 2017 will get a higher child element for the first born.

LtDansleg · 05/08/2021 23:22

@MegaClutterSlut

Uc doesn't always pay 85%, they state they pay up to 85%. Your probably better off ringing them and hopefully it will get sorted quicker that way
This. 85% is the maximum possible amount that they’ll pay for you, only in certain circumstances though. Youre unlikely to get anywhere near this
Babyroobs · 05/08/2021 23:29

they pay 85% up to the limit as another element of Uc. then wages reduce the total award. So they always pay 85% but wages reduce the whole award ( all the elements added together ).

Original poster
Efilio · 06/08/2021 00:53

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@Efilio you are not claiming tax free childcare. You have childcare vouchers which are completely different and CAN be used in conjunction with UC.[/quote]
Thanks for clarifying xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Efilio · 06/08/2021 00:55

I am absolutely sickened that mothers under age 25 get less than others in identical circumstances 😡 fucking hell, this government is awful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Efilio · 06/08/2021 00:56

I will ring them tomorrow and let you know how I get on...

OP posts:
Gemmmmmma · 06/08/2021 01:16

Our childcare element is missing every single month and we have to chase it up every time. Usually just on the journal and they are typically quite quick at sorting it. But just remember to check every month, even if you do get it sorted this time. It makes you wonder how many people haven't noticed this sort of thing and are missing out

Original poster
Efilio · 06/08/2021 01:25

@Gemmmmmma

Our childcare element is missing every single month and we have to chase it up every time. Usually just on the journal and they are typically quite quick at sorting it. But just remember to check every month, even if you do get it sorted this time. It makes you wonder how many people haven't noticed this sort of thing and are missing out
Omg really?! I think the whole system is really confusing (and unfair). I have probably missed out on £100's because I was so unwell earlier in the year I didn't realise that I was not getting any money for childcare, even if it isn't the full 85% it all adds up!

I believe you can't claim it back after a month has passed 😒

OP posts:
Rememberallball · 06/08/2021 03:26

@Efilio, you can report on your journal under payments to say you’ve picked up that, despite uploading childcare invoices/receipt on time each month, you have found they’ve not been included in your statements. Ask fora mandatory reconsideration on the lack of payments. Also go back through your journal to make sure that, as well as being uploaded, they’ve verified your childcare costs.

Rememberallball · 06/08/2021 03:33

Also meant to add, the ‘not being able to claim back childcare costs more than a month later’, this refers to you not submitting childcare costs during the AP they’ve been paid/used not when the invoices have been uploaded but not paid back.

Doorhandleghost · 06/08/2021 07:06

Presumably the difference in what you’re actually paid and what you earn is the childcare vouchers
amount - they shouldn’t be disregarded from your earnings or they’d be double counted surely?

Lower benefit amounts for u25s isn’t new, it isn’t this govt to at came up with it - various benefits have had it for decades.

Gemmmmmma · 06/08/2021 08:46

Yes it's a pain and we will continue to check every month. I'm not sure what their rules are and how much missed childcare you will get backdated though. Hopefully you get it sorted and get it all backdated