Should I be more grateful for what I get?

[Solo234]

Recently been feeling overwhelmed and just never really like I get a break.My lb goes to his grans on a Monday for 4 hours but that is the only consistent time off I get. I can ask my own Mum to watch him if I had something on but that wouldn’t be a regular thing as she does have a busy social life herself. I looked into nursery recently but just can’t afford it. My lb Dad has bad mental health so can’t see him on his own so he isn’t an option for childcare.

Is it wrong that I want more of a break than I get on the Monday? I used to have they 4 hours to really clean and tidy up but I have PTSD and see a therapist now on that day which I enjoy and don’t want to give up. But yeah just never have any time to myself I do have nights but would be nice to get a good sleep now and again.

I don’t know if I’m expecting too much and I feel guilty for wanting a night or a few more hours off.

the 2 years you were thinking of is the 15 hours you can get if you are on a low income. If you earn more than £15,400 after tax you don't get this. 30 hours after aged 3 is if working more than 16 hours a week, otherwise it's 15 hours. Nurseries can charge for extras on top of this though.

@Danikm151 No way did not realise this at all I did do searches for support for childcare under 2 as well!

So if you don’t mind me asking how much is your childcare and how many hours are you working?

Feel like it would be difficult to try and work out a net pay each money. Also the upfront cost is that like a month up front? I could ask my mum to pay this as I wouldn’t have it but I’m sure she’d help out if I was getting the money back.

And what is a discretionary fund? I will go look into all of this. Thanks so much I honestly didn’t have a clue you could get this support for under 2

Honestly just hang on in there, it gets easier! Free nursery hours/clubs/school/parties…you’ve got it all to come after the tough bit you’re in now!

I have a 1 hour slot each Weds to do my food shop while my DD is at rainbows! It’s like supermarket sweep! 😃

@Danikm151 I’m reading other peoples experiences and not reading good things eek do you get the same childcare element each month? People reporting that they are paying different or not paying at all?

@Solo234
I pay £760 each month and get £640 back. I work 37 hours a week.
my net pay is £1550(gross £1950) pension isn’t counted either.

sometimes they mess it up but a journal message resolves it within a day.

the discretionary fund is money that you can be given upfront but it’s up to the agent who looks.

i started paying nursery weekly but that messed up the assessment period so changed to monthly and things have been fine since then.