UC

[Edi111]

Hi all, hoping for some advice, have only recently applied for UC as I hadn't realised I'd be eligible but a friend told me they'd claimed and I think me and my husband are so we are claiming.
Just wondering how much do they need to look through do you need to provide bank statements etc or just employers details for example to see salary etc
I have previously been doing tax free childcare should I stop doing that? If I've paid previous month's using that can I include them on my UC application or no?
I know it says will pay up to 85% of childcare but how do I know how much of it they'll pay?
Thanks in advance

you won’t know until your statement generates (how much child care they can pay) i imagine they will ask you to go in for an appointment in which you could ask any questions you have

Normally you and your partner will be asked to attend an interview at the Job Centre to go through formalities such as paper proof of ID and, if your claiming them, perhaps your housing costs. You'll also have to agree a claimant commitment but if you're both working that's not going to be onerous; keep in touch and check your journal sort of thing.

Assuming you're both working for an employer, as opposed to self employed, UC will be told what you earn in each monthly Assessment Period for your claim. The figures the employer reports to HMRC when they run payroll are shared with UC.

You cannot claim tax free childcare AND get help for the costs through UC at the same time; it's either one government 'subsidy' or the other. The rules around UC childcare are changing and I'm not currently on top of the numbers. The general principle however is you get 80% of the costs up to a ceiling for (a) one child and (b) second and subsequent. The 'up to 80%' relates to the max; although it's increasing it may well be less than what you're actually paying.

Provided it's an OFSTED approved provider and you comply with UC's requirements etc for uploading your invoices it should be relatively straightforward.

Thank you that's really helpful.
Have uploaded all the docs required and as yet they haven't asked us to go in but perhaps they will!
I paid this month's child care without the tax free bit which was a bit of a hit but hopefully worth it when they decide how much they're going to pay!

I’m not any help here but I do find it must be a pain day if you are employed to have to take time off work to go to job centre at their will of an appointment to prove who you are when they have all your digital info from hmrc anyway. Like lose some hourly pay or use a days holiday to bring in that letter you could of scanned 😅

Uc is made up of elements then deductions are made based on your earnings

a benefits calculator will give you a rough idea but it does depend on your assessment period( so part of your childcare will be paid over 2 months)

I know it says will pay up to 85% of childcare but how do I know how much of it they'll pay?

• They'll pay up to 85% of childcare costs
• The most you can get is £646.35 for one child
• The most you can get is £1,108.04 for 2 or more children

That means that you can claim for childcare costs of up to £760.41 for one child or £1303.57 for two or more children.

• They will add up all the 'elements' that you are entitled to https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get
• They will then take your income and deduct your 'work allowance' from it. Your work allowance is £379 if you ask for help with housing costs because you rent, and £631 if you don't (you have a mortgage or live rent free somewhere).
• They will calculate 55% of (income - work allowance)
• They will deduct that amount from the total of all the elements of UC you are entitled to.
• The final amount is the UC you are entitled to.

Each month you will be given a statement of what you should be paid with a breakdown of how they arrived at that figure. Once they've calculated the likely award, you will be offered the opportunity to take an advance, which is paid back over 24 months.

"That means that you can claim for childcare costs of up to £760.41 for one child or £1303.57 for two or more children."

Just to be clear, if you have one child and have childcare costs of up to £760.41, they will give the full 85% of that, so a max of £646.35, on the award before any deduction for income. If you have two or more children and have costs of up to £1303.57, they will give the full 85% of that, so max of £1108.04, on the award before any deduction for income. If your costs are over those amounts, only the stated maximum will be awarded and the rest will be for you to cover.

Definitely very annoying 😕

The childcare amount is going up to £900 very soon