UC help with childcare costs

[Sakura03]

I’m a newly single mum to a 17 month old boy. I work full time and my son is in nursery full time. I get a childcare voucher and my son’s father transfer £400 a month to me towards his upkeep (we used to share nursery fees when we lived together £600 each). I used the entitled to benefit calculator before I made a claim for UC so I was really surprised when I was notified that I would “only” receive £132 a month, don’t get me wrong I am of course grateful that I do get some financial help but the calculations on entitled to suggested I would get a lot more. I don’t really understand the breakdown of the UC calculation which doesn’t help. I do get a fair bit of HB though (perhaps because I’m currently in temporary accommodation?). Should I leave it as it is or can I ask for a more in depth explanation of the UC calculations? Anyone with similar experience?

Your rental costs being covered by HB is a big part of this story. UC is a qualifying benefit for HB so you'll receive full HB if you claim UC.

Without housing costs, you get 317 for you, 231 for your child then up to 646 in childcare. When you work full time, even with wage disregards, it doesn't take a massive amount to reach the amount you're entitled to. Are you childcare costs definitely included in the amount? You need to not just report your childcare costs, but actually have paid it in the assessment period for it to be included. Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs!

UC should definitely give you a breakdown on the journal on how they've arrived at the figure and you can definitely ask for clarification if you're confused.

You should double check your numbers though. This link might help : www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/check-how-much-universal-credit-youll-get/

Childcare element of UC is paid as another element alongside your other elements. They pay 85% of costs up to a certain amount. Then this is added to your other elements and you wages reduce the whole award. I think you would only be able to claim what is not covered by childcare vouchers. The way that you upload receipts/ invoices is very specific I think and has to be done in line with your assessment period which may be why it is low but you need to remember that the amount you receive isn't specifically for childcare, it's what's left after your wages have reduced the whole amount. If you are paid four weekly or weekly there may be some months that you receive more or less Uc depending how many pay days fall in your assessment period.

I think it might be because you get childcare vouchers? I don’t think you can claim for the costs covered by the vouchers? See here: www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/childcare/universal-credit/how-does-it-interact-other-schemes#toc-universal-credit-and-childcare-vouchers

Yep you can't get childcare vouchers and UC. You need to use one or the other working out which one is best for you - almost certainly it will be UC.

Thank you so much everyone for all your comments, really helpful. I will have a look at the links. They did suggest that I had failed to provide invoices and proof of payments with the deadline but I’ve checked and I haven’t but they haven’t replied to me yet.

Should say within the deadline.