Carer allowance and funded childcare as single mum

[LunarMoon92]

I receive carers allowance- I look after a child of 9 years who had additional needs - my 18 month old son attends nursery so that I can provide this care. I split with my sons father a couple of months ago. We still live together as own a house but I want to have a place away from him. Anyways, I need to reconfirm my details with gov childcare but does this mean I won't get 15 hours funded childcare anymore as we aren't a couple? I'm struggling so bad. I can no longer cover nursery costs and am living off 750 a month which is supposed to pay £400 nursery fees, £350 mortgage and then another £300-£400 utilities, that's all without considering money to feed my son. I've never been on UC until last month. Always worked, gave up work as my ex said he would support us. I'm in my 30s and just don't know what to do. I just keep getting told to speak to citizens advice. How is £750 supposed to cover the bills? I'm wanting to go into employment but If I take my son out of childcare - I have to give a month's notice - I can't go to work as the childcare waiting list is over a year. I'm sick with anxiety. This isn't even mentioning the fact all this is just getting me into debt with no hope of leaving my living situation. I feel hopeless and can't stop crying. Please no hate, I can't take much more. Any advice please? Anyone else in the same situation?

Have you got all the right elements on your UC?

you should get
single person
child element x 2
disabled child element
carers element

should be around £1,300 per month.

I’m assuming here that you have applied for DLA for your child and have been awarded.

As far as I’m aware you can’t claim the funded childcare hours unless someone in the household is working. You should be able to find details of a local carers centre who will be able to help with benefits advice or Contact charity are also really good and have a helpline.

if you husband is still living in the same house then he is also responsible for paying his part of bills including mortgage and utilities. He should also be paying maintenance unless he’s doing 50/50 childcare.

You may want to move this to chat or one of the other topics that get more people reading.

Thank you.
The child I care for is a friend of mine, I'm qualified SENCO so agreed to be her carer when I left work.
What topic would you advise best to post on? I never know 🤦‍♀️😅

I think if your finances are split for the purposes of UC then they would be for childcare too unfortunately.

Do you get paid beyond the carers allowance?

If you are employed as a carer then you'll be able to claim the childcare hours, but if you're not employed then you'll no longer be entitled to it.

It sounds like an unusual arrangement- caring for a non family member without getting paid, and claiming benefits.

Would your friend not be able to get some direct payments for care of her disabled child, then she could employ you as her carer?

Arguably if you are available to be a voluntary carer for a non family member then arent you available for paid care work and should be seeking that? A

Can your ex claim funded childcare hours?

To get carers allowance you must be caring for your friends child for at least 35 hours per week. If you're available to do that perhaps it would be best to do it in a paid capacity?

Wouldn’t you be better off getting a full time job so you’ll be entitled to childcare help? I appreciate this will create difficulties for your friend but you need to put yourself and your own child first now that you’re a single mum.

You need to get a paying job. You can’t afford to give up work to care for someone else’s child for a pittance.

So you’re caring for a friends child for 35 hours plus a week and just being paid Carers Allowance? That just isn’t sustainable. You are going to need to give her notice and find a paying job so you can afford your childcare and living costs.

The friend may be able to be assessed by social services to see if she can receive direct payments for her child so that she could pay you at least minimum wage but she’s not likely to be awarded full time hours. You could also maybe look into becoming a childminder or Nanny and then your friend may be able to claim for some help with childcare costs (assuming she works) and she can pay you properly.

Sorry if I'm wrong, but I can't help but doubt you're actually doing 35 hours a week for your friends child.
Are they at school?

If so, how are you fitting in the 35 hours around school?

It's not right if you're fraudulently claiming carers allowance.

If you are the child’s 1:1 in school (as you said in a previous thread - though it was your niece than), surely you get a salary (not just carer’s allowance)? It’s confusing as here you say you don’t work, do doesn’t seem like it can be two children. You’d get better help if you clarified the actual situation.

You gave up work because a man said he would support you. He isn’t doing that so you need to get a job.

I am single mum and work 35 hour what children care can I get I get care allowed for my friend and look have her 35 hour week