UC childcare payment expectations

[OlympicProcrastinator]

Hello posting for traffic.

Does anyone else find UC make you jump through hoops to get help toward childcare?

They began by asking for invoices and receipts from the childcare provider. All fine.

Then they wanted invoices, receipts from the childcare provider and additionally, screenshots of the bank transaction when we made the payment which prevented us from paying any in cash or splitting the costs.

Then, despite providing them with an invoice that clearly states Mon-Friday and the sessions booked. They then wanted my provider to break it down further to write out the days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and the sessions. They had to change the way they invoice just for me.

From September I am using Scopay for those that know it to pay online upfront for a different breakfast club. They don’t provide detailed invoices that UC have been asking for. So I’m guessing I’ll just stop making a claim.

Do they ask this of everyone? Are they deliberately making it so difficult people just stop claiming? Or does this seem unusual to you if you claim childcare?

TIA

Yes I've found this too and my childcare provider are really reluctant to provide what I ask. I also find it embarrassing asking for it. UC make it as difficult as possible in the hope we give up! Surely the invoice alone should be enough proof!

I suppose they want to be sure the money being claimed is actually going towards childcare / the amount they are giving to you is accurate.

Yes invoice, then receipt to say you’ve paid should be enough. I cannot understand these extra hoops and I also find it embarrassing. I don’t want my childcare provider to know I am claiming help toward costs.

I’ve never had an issue claiming. I think childcare providers should itemise the days anyway and provide proper invoices. It makes sense that they ask us for screenshots of the bank transaction to prove we’ve paid. I’ve never considered paying in cash. If you want to split costs can’t one parent just transfer to the other?

Of course. Which is why it’s reasonable to ask for the invoice and proof of payment. The rest seems excessive and prevents people from paying cash or splitting the costs between a couple. I imagine there are plenty of exes that pay their childcare part directly to the provider but are reluctant to send screenshots of their bank payment to their exes.

But the childcare provider gives a receipt to say it’s been paid. And the invoice was itemised already.

I'm assuming the reason they're getting so picky is because of the tightening up on the voluntary consumable charges that have been getting wrapped in childcare claims.

Also I assume the receipts is to make sure there isn't a repeat of the issues when tax credits were first around where people could claim the money then not actually pay for the childcare (or cancel the place but keep claiming) as there were no checks.

I haven’t found this. All they want is a receipt from the provider and the breakdown of daily costs which is one spreadsheet.

Thank you. This makes sense. I hadn’t considered consumables as this isn’t part of my wraparound care. I guess that answers my question then.

Yes I've had some issues - at one point I had to screenshot the holiday childcare providers website because they kept asking for proof of what type of childcare it is! Despite them being ofsted registered.
But ultimately they have always paid albeitb sometimes late.

When I first set mine up I gave all the nursery info provided a letter from the nursery stating session costs with a monthly invoice and email receipts I get when I pay cash also upload a pic of my nursery app balance showing invoice amount and payments coming off. I’ve not been asked for further but a lady did explain to me not to upload the same invoice twice (say month ends mid week etc) ours goes up august so I’ll upload the letter they gave out about it