15 free hours (punished for not having a partner?)

[glossypeach]

Title is a bit weird but let me continue. I’m disabled and unable to work at the moment, I’m also a single parent to a three year old. He is eligible for the 15 hours free childcare because I’m currently not working. But if my circumstances changed and I got a partner who worked, I would be eligible for him to have the 30 hours free childcare. But the only thing that would change would be having a partner. I’d still be disabled, id still be unable to work but because I’d have a partner my child would be allowed to have that extra time in nursery. It feels like I’m being punished for choosing to remain single, and a bit discriminating that I’m unable to work at the moment but because I cannot do that, my child is missing out. My child is very active and although I have a good support network to help him get out when my disability disabled me to, he thrives at nursery - so I cannot see how single disabled people don’t get that 30 free hour funding also??

It's because it's aim is to get parents working. They're not going to give it to people who are unemployed, it has to be an incentive to work.

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts if OP receives those ‘certain benefits’ then they will also receive 30 funded hours, which they’ve pointed out they don’t.

You can also get the 30hrs if you as the parent are in receipt of carers allowence for the child in question.

Please ignore all the nasty posts - some people have no clue and are only here to disability/benefits bash.

You're right - you would be entitled to 30 hours if you had a working partner and yes, that does seem unfair. Please speak to your GP or health visitor to see if they can get you any more support

It says on the website you only qualify for the 30 hours if you have a partner who is working?

Very true.

If I were single I could be claiming a lot more than childcare.

Definitely proves that not every scheme is suitable for every family 🤷🏻‍♀️

You wouldn’t get the 30 hours funded, as you don’t also work. It needs to be both parents working to achieve it.

In England. Its not the case in Scotland for example. I'm mostly a sahm and dh has a very well paid job. Dc2 currently gets 30 hours funding. I'd say 40 percent of her preschool fall into a similar bracket. If we wanted to pay we couldn't pay for that specific preschool (which most of her future classmates attend) because funded places get first pick.

It seems very unfair that the OP is getting such a slating from certain posters when across the UK the system is unfair and so different.

Not true the partner would revive childcare as the disabled mother is deemed possible unable to care fir said child while they are working.
Op hours 1-15 are education 16-30 are childcare to enable employment. You aren't being punished.

The 30 hours childcare has nothing to do with you having a partner or not. Its because, as you have said, that partner would be working.
The 30hours childcare is to help people who are working, so they can work. Not people who aren’t working.
However, those who earn £100k will not receive that funded childcare despite them working.
So Not everyone will get the extra support, but at least some working people will.

This all goes to helping the economy and the services the taxes provide for the greater good of all those needing benefits, education and health care.

Speak to pre-school and your health visitor about what's best for your child. Explain clearly that you are on benefits, so you don't have the money for additional hours. The health visitor should be able to get you additional funding, though they may demand that you go to a specific school pre-school rather than a nursery, as that will be cheapest for them, especially if they have capacity anyway.

I am not convinced as a single parent that you can't get the 30 hours by the way, but your health visitor should be able to help with that. www.gov.uk/find-free-early-education for two, three and four year old funding and www.childcarechoices.gov.uk has all funding options.

OP would've recieved 15 their child was 2, whereas me and my partner didn't because we both worked.

Therefore we're being discriminated against for working and being in a relationship.....

The 30 free hours is for working people, you're not being discriminated against.

I got the free 30hrs as a single unemployed parent, not sure what’s going on with your hours but they may have made a mistake.

I missed the bit where she says she claims the relevant benefits so needs a partner to claim the extra 15 hours.

Either way, she doesn't have a partner, doesnt work so is only entitled to 15 hours, they cant offer funded hours for everyone and every circumstance so they've done it as fair as possible.

It might be fair but nothing in life rarely is. They see it as her being at home full time and therefore able to look after her child (even if her disability prevents her being able to do this) but give her 15 funded hours so her child can go for however many sessions they go for. She could always top up and pay for extra hours if she is struggling to provide care for the child at home

If you dont work there is no need to send your kid to nursery for 30 hrs a week. Its not discrimination its because parents who work might not to be able to afford the childcare they need to do their job. You do not need childcare you just want it for free.

Basically, only @coffeecupsandwaxmelts has this correctly (and the OP). She would be entitled to the 30 hours funding if she had a partner and recieved qualifying disability benefits.
So she isn't wrong in what she says.
I'm sorry OP. It's shit. I would definitely enquire in to other sources of funding via the HV though.

I am sorry about your situation but unfortunately you can only receive 15 hours free child care. As PP mentioned you could talk to a social worker or GP for advice. Why was your physical health declining? The reason I ask is because I do believe in holistic healing and eating good food. Exercise is good even if it's a 20 minute walk a day helps with mental health and it keeps your joints moving. When people retire they become sedentry and that's when a lot of old people end up with health issues.

I send the above with love and I believe everyone deserves to live their best life.

op, I have not read the posts you are responding to, but there are people on mumsnet who come here to be spiteful and bullying, dont take them personally, they are the same to everyone. Just skim over their posts without reading. I have no doubt that you are a loving caring mum and your child is lucky to have you, and life will get better for you , and you will move on from this situation xx

Is your child 3 or over?

as far as I know, 30 hours is only if both partners work, or if a single parent, that parent works. I dont think you get 30 hours if mum is SAH, whatever the partner does

OP get the thread taken down. As usual posters aren't reading and engaging their brains. There is funding for disabled parents, if your HV isn't of any help you can speak to SS. It is rationed, so you might or might not be lucky. Good luck.

Posted to soon and in a school nursey?

You wouldn’t get 30 free hours if you’re not working, both parents have to be working to get it. Even if you had a partner if you’re not working you would only get 15hr? Or is there a rule if you’re disabled it’s bumped up?

@NewNovember he was 3/4 at the time, I stay in Scotland though - does that make a difference? Assuming it’s the same across the whole UK atm with it being Westminster that implemented it.

You do if the other parent is disabled.
So if you are a disabled parent and you live with someone who works, they, as the working person claims the hours.

@glossypeach
You may still be eligible if... you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Limited Capability for Work Benefit or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

So definitely apply for the 30 hours and see what they say. It'll be for September term now tho