Universal Credit + Maintenance Query

[34dougal]

Any advice appreciated. My son is nearly 4, his father wanted to leave me and so moved out over a year ago and i have been claiming U.C as a single parent as advised by citizens advice since. His father pays monthly maintenance, which includes 1/2 of his nursery costs after his 30 hours funding. it has dawned on me, when i submit my proof to U.C each month, the invoices etc show the full amount we pay for nursery. They do not know that i only pay half of the total amount of nursery costs, but i seem to get the U.C help based on the total amount. Is this correct?
Many Thanks

Child Maintenance is fully disregarded for Universal Credit. If your child's father is paying the nursery direct it might be better if he sent money to you to avoid any suggestion of malfeasance but I wouldn't worry about it.

Still less would I risk a UC agent getting knicker twisty over how it's worked until now by reporting it.

Maintenance doesn't get counted by Universal Credit. That your ex partner attributes some of his maintenance payment to nursery fees doesn't bind you to use them for that. You are responsible for the entirety of the fees, whether he pays maintenance or not (which is why maintenance isn't taken into consideration for Universal Credit). So I don't think you need to worry about it.

As above. Child maintenance does not count with UC.

Thanks all. I pay the nursery directly. The reason this came to light is that in January the nursery costs are to increase quite dramatically, and so with his father paying 1/2 and unsure if he can afford the increase (!) I am confused whether I should make him aware of the 85% of costs covered by UC, and split the remainder, which would be v similar to what we pay now.
as much as I begrudge making his life easier, I am more concerned about my son and I surviving until he goes to school next September, something about it doesn't sit right with me!

That question is for you to decide. Personally, if he is making the right level of maintenance and additionally paying half the nursery cost, then it would be right to make sure he is only paying half of the true costs of nursery, in my opinion.

Thanks all, so helpful to type it out of my head on here, and the clear replies! Yes - I didn't mean my reply to sound like I was trying to fleece him, I think my issue is feeling like somehow we are better off financially because we are not together. Which is totally irrelevant, as long as my son is getting what he needs. Thanks all!