Universal Credit Childcare costs reimbursement - experiences please!

[MommaFox94]

I start my new job on Monday and will be paying for a full-time place in preschool for my DD(3). I understand UC pay back up to 85% of childcare costs for childcare that has already taken place, but was wondering what some other parent's experiences of this were? How long does it usually take to get the costs paid back? Did anyone have any trouble with it? Any advice on getting it processed as quickly/smoothly as possible? Thank you.

Hi can anyone share any advice or have you had a similar experience.. unfortunately I submitted my childcare cost a day over the assessment period (you get over a month to declare)
I had to report the reason as a honest error I made.

However after numerous calls to UC I was told it would be sorted not to panic, however it has now gone to a decision maker. I have now been told it’s not a good enough reason. I won’t get the 85% of £900 that I’ve already paid for. The money that keeps my daughter in nursery and me in work.

I feel annoyed I forgot but also it feels very unfair the impact this will now have. I have stated now that I do struggle with my anxiety however as a working mum it’s a let down to know that this situation could now mean impacting nursery costs I have to pay next month.
has anyone had issues like this? And taken it further? I have now escalated it to appeal however I did read the percentage of overturning the decisions by the DWP is very low. Apparently the next stage after this would be tribunal.

Hi can I ask what you needed to send them as proof of childcare costs/ payments? I’m asking as I will need to move over to universal credit soon and I pay my childminder cash I have contract with term time and non term time days and hours also get a receipt but I have been reading they need bank statements to show payments any info you can give would be appreciated thanks

You will have to take a picture of a receipt from the childminder or have her send you an invoice. I'd ask her if you can pay transfer ideally. You can then screenshot the transfer and upload to your journal. Soon as you pay it, upload it straight away. Saves you from forgetting about it and being late.

So you should upload a receipt/invoice and the bank transfer/transaction and also the dates on which your paying for.

Thank you for the reply and advise really appreciate that. So basically It would be less problematic and easier to pay by bank rather than cash?

Yes I believe so. Even better so you can keep records for yourself if you ever need them!

Just alot easier for you to screenshot the transaction rather than a paper receipt for UC. Just upload soon as you do it. I used to do it the day I paid then it was done. If your assessment period runs from the 22nd to 22nd, just put those dates in. Anything after them, you'll get paid on your next assessment period. It's pretty easy once you've done it a couple times.

I always had a positive experience to be honest, but there are certain things you must include for it to go through without query. If you report your costs within the assessment period, you will receive them on the payment due from that
Month.

You need to provide proof of costs and proof of payment, so I always sent an invoice showing costs (it must show the dates the costs cover, ie 1st Jan 2023 to 31st Jan 2023), Childs name must be on there too, and I also uploaded a screenshot of the payment showing on my online banking.

I got into the habit of logging them a couple of days after they were paid, as soon as I could see the payment on my bank statement.

Thank you for the advise and fed back I am coming to the conclusion that paying by bank transfer is less problematic and everything is then covered even though I have receipts for cash payments

Hi just saw this topic l, wondering if anyone could help!
im a bit confused, if your working and sending your child to a nursery, do you apply to uc to claim 85% back?

Hi
I was wondering what has happened as the same thing has happened to me. I thought I had submitted the evidence but I must have forgotten. They now won't pay the £500. I also had mandatory reconsideration rejected. Seems really unfair

Did anyone with similiar issues manage to get this sorted? UC haven’t back paid our nursery fees for 6 months, always a different excuse. The most recent one (last months) was because the invoice was “invoice number 2021” UC have said “as this is an invoice from 2021” another error on their part.
Getting so frustrated with it, have been on the phone countless amounts of times with promises of “this will be sorted, don’t panic” despite the fact it’s completely eating into earnings and have had to go without on a lot of things/run up credit cards just to keep my DD in nursery so that me and my partner can both work.

So does anyone know when UC pay back the child cost, is it the following month?
I've submitted my first months invoice/proof etc, they mssgd me confirming the provider has been verified and all good - it mentions

The childcare will be included in the
UC assessment period the costs were paid.

What does that mean? Does that mean I'll get it next month as they have already paid my uc this month which doesn't include the child care element.

Also would it be 85%? It mentions up to, what determines if it's 85% or less?? I initially thought it's the whole 85%, based on that I am able to afford paying the remainder.

It's paid in the amount for the assessment period that you had the childcare in.

I've always had 85 per cent of it paid.

I presume if you earn a fair amount that's when they might not pay 85 per cent

Hello,

Please I need some advice as I am terribly confused. I am currently in receipt of UC as I took mat leave for a year and stop getting paid from my employer but now I’m due to return back to work and I need to understand this free childcare hours/Tax-free childcare (govt 20% support)/UC.

I applied for the code successfully to get the free hours and I vaguely recollect seeing I would have to close my UC claim. I basically think I will be better off staying on UC as I have also reduced my hours at work.

obviously with nursery stretching the funded hours, I am still left with a bill of about £600 monthly. My question is can I use the 15/30 free childcare hours code then claim the £600 back through UC or Do I not use the code at all, pay the nursery full bill (which is about £1400/mth) then claim it back through UC.

it’s just so confusing. Someone please help.

@MamaDemi

you use the code and use UC for the remaining value you pay,

UC will only pay for the hours and you aren't able to include any charges for meals or snacks. UC are starting to clamp down on this