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 was a local authority nursery too yes, but not a school nursery (called a family learning centre but fed on to two local primary schools in the catchment area).

Well, I have learned something here and as a result I agree with the OP- if she is claiming the benefits that 'unlock' the 30 hours funded childcare, then the logic that she only gets them if she has a working partner does seem quite odd.

Cynically, from the policy-makers' point of view is it because it's tax-related and therefore if there's one parent working some of the cost of offering that funding is recouped, whereas if it's given to a single disabled person who is claiming those eligible benefits, they don't get anything back in the pot from PAYE? If that's the case then that is very harsh on the OP and others in that situation.

Ignore the spiteful posts. That's what I think the benefit system is there for - to help those when they’re down if/until they’re able to get back on their feet again, as you said. No one chooses to be ill or disabled, and it isn't easy. I've had the 30 free hours childcare in the past due to both my partner and I working, and I definitely wouldn't begrudge you getting it as a single parent with disabilities, who isn't able to work and has a child who would benefit from it.

It's a benefit to encourage people to work seems fair enough

I'm pretty sure you're wrong. You both need to be working I believe.

My partner earns 100k... we don't get anything too. Its annoying as he works hard to get there, most of his wage is taken in tax.

I think it should be 30 hours free for everyone. Kind society

This, in essence. We can’t make everything free and in abundance for everyone - we have too many people out of work, the country can’t afford it.

Just apply for it anyway you might be eligible

If you need extra hours then definitely speak to your HV or the nursery. Some offer discretionary hours or the HV can access funding for you.

I have a husband. He works. I don’t. So we only get 15 hours. I don’t get 30 hours because I am not currently employed. When I was working we got 30 hours.

Are you sure you’d get the 30 hours if you had a partner? Perhaps you do because of your disability, but having a partner definitely doesn’t mean you automatically get 30 hours free.

Whilst the OP may not need those 30 free hours what about her child? They may need those hours. (To enable OP to rest, attend medical appointments, etc)

That’s still the OP’s need, not the child. If it’s a child’s inherent need to have 30 free hours at nursery then we would have to give that to everyone wouldn’t we?

Yes but the government should do different scheme for that if they can be arsed..oh wait no they don't care about disabled people having respite or being able to attend appointments.

And years ago SS funded such places under a Labour government with council nurseries and sure starts. Not any more.

You only get the 30 free hours if you're both working. We used to get it and then I lost my job, which meant we now only get 15 free hours, whereas we used to get 30 free hours plus a government contribution via the tax free childcare. I do think the system is a bit unfair. I understand that it's supposed to create an incentive to work, but in my case I feel like I'm being punished for losing my job. I still need to send my child to nursery so I can look for work, and I also think the social element is really important since he's an only child, but in the meantime our childcare costs have literally doubled.

With respect, if a person chooses to have a child, there should be a certain amount of responsibility they accept in caring for them.

OP is not working and is getting 15 free hours. I think that is a fair amount of time for appointments and rest.

I sometimes feel like Mumsnetters forget things cost money, and that money comes from people working hard. We can’t just provide unlimited everything because someone says they need it.

I’ll also point out the free hours are in part subsidised by people who are working and paying the full rate for their under 3 year olds. We put an awful lot of pressure on working taxpayers to fund others as it is, considering they are also struggling and entitled to nothing in most cases.

That is a fair enough view. I just don't think the 30 hours scheme for working parents should be hijacked. The government can make another scheme if they think they need to expand the scope. Working parents need to feel they are better off working or you'll end up with people (mostly women) giving up work and earning shit all

It’s ridiculous that a disabled parent is only entitled to additional childcare help if she has a working partner.

OP clearly DOES need childcare support and I’d imagine it’s a big benefit for her child too.

Is it worth speaking the citizens advice or you HV to make sure you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to?

The 15 hours are for all kids because it benefits the child. Kids in certain situations will be able to access the 15 hours at 2 years old.

30hours was for the working population to access childcare. We don't even get 30hrs as DH earns above the threshold. It's fair, despite paying a shit load of tax.

Re your paragraph 1
Technically ‘she’ wouldn’t be getting the extra 15 hours. Her partner would be getting the extra 15 hours if he/ she was working.

Not trying to be picky with the wording but it is relevant

Am I reading the wrong website?

The gov.uk website outlines eligibility and explicitly says "you or your partner if you have one"

So nothing about it only being applicable to partnered families?

She has childcare. She has 15 hours per week, free of charge.

Childcare isn’t being withheld because OP is single, it’s because her household is not contributing to the tax pot. See it that way.

Unfortunately I imagine PIP all goes on non-child-related disability costs. It's nowhere near enough (see Scope's 2023 costs of disability figures)

@glossypeach

honestly, it's a minefield trying to work it all out. However, I don't think this scheme is the best one to focus on. I would do as others have suggested and try to get more help via disability schemes & funding.

I don't understand how a 3 yo qualifies as a 'young carer' but several people have mentioned it, so it's worth looking into.

im sorry his Dad was abusive & I'm glad you're away from him now and I'm very sorry about your disability! Many People don't realise how they're only a split second away from disability themselves. They associate disability with being born disabled, not via an illness or accident.

pay no attention to the the nasty or stupid posts, they're not worth upsetting yourself over!!

best wishes for everything