Nursery hours, facing unemployment, can anyone answer this? Please be kind

[Usppp]

I have struggled massively with my mental health. My child is entitled to 30 free hours in September. However I am likely to be out of work shortly as I simply am not coping. I am a single parent and receive some maintenance. My child will be three in October.

Does anyone know if I will be eligible for the 30 free hours even if I am not working in September? I am trying to cope with so much and I don’t want my child’s life disrupted. I will not cope without childcare either. I’ve tried to find the answer online but it’s not clear.

All 3 year olds are entitled to 15 hours, but the 30 will depend on what, if any, benefits you are claiming.

@ARichtGoodDram thanks. So if I am unemployed I will still get 30 hours? Which is essentially around two days?

15 hours is universal from age 3 but the other 15 is conditional on working so I’m afraid I don’t think you will qualify for 30h unless you can remain in your role or find a new one.

Could you take some time off sick or on extended leave for a little while?

@ARichtGoodDram sorry 15 hours

@EmmasDilemmas i have already been off sick so only have two weeks of sick leave left for this year and then I would be on statutory pay which I think means I wouldn’t earn enough for 30 hours? I feel sick with stress

Just to add as well, the eligibility is from the term after they turn 3, not their birthday. So an October birthday means funding from January.

You’ll get 15 free hours from January if you’re not working and your child is 3 in October

If you are on statutory sick pay, I believe you will qualify as being in paid work even if below earnings threshold. Gov.UK guidance says:

You can usually get free childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work or starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

@EmmasDilemmas thanks. I was told by the nursery that it was from September but that is only if you are working?

If your child is 2 and you are working you are entitled to 15h now. That will go up to 30h from the term after they are 3, if you are still working. I think the nursery is mistaken about you being eligible for 30h from September unless there is something I am misunderstanding. It would be worth checking with them.

The free hours only start the term after the child is 3. So either the nursery are incorrect or they are doing something different to the government guidelines

You won’t be entitled if you’re unemployed.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/how-to-apply-for-30-hours-free-childcare-and-find-out-if-youre-eligible/

You could consider going into self-employment as you won't need to meet the minimum threshold for earnings for the first 12 months of self-employment. Just pick something with low start-up costs and regulations (lots of people did this with tax credits in the past, eg dog walking or selling homemade crafts).

15 hours are not usually taken as 2 long days by people who don't work. "Preschool hours" should be possible, such as 9.30-12.30 5 days a week, or 9am-3pm 3x per week, with you paying for them over lunch. If your setting doesn't offer this, others probably will. Stretching 15 hours over more days, and topping up a bit of you can stretch to it, might suit you both better.

I really hope you will be feeling better soon. I know that might feel impossible at the moment, but hopefully one day soon you'll catch some chinks of light.