Can anyone tell me if I have calculated this correctly (UC childcost element)

[justsomeguidance]

Hi all. I currently claim childcare element of UC as my husband and I both work. My assessment period is from 10th (month) - 9th (month)

My childcare costs calculates like this:
10th May (start of assessment) - 30th May (£374.60)
30th May - 9th June (end of assessment) worked out £136.80

I added both up which totalled £511.40

Then I worked out 85% of that is £434.69 which is what UC say they pay back.

Is that right? I am really, really relying on getting this payment (long story, financial struggles)

As I understand it the childcare element is calculated as 85% of what you have paid. Then this is added as just another element of UC along with your couples element and child element , rent element etc. Those elements are all added together to make your total then your wages reduce the whole award after any work allowance is disregarded. So I think you're looking at it wrongly in that you wont get back 85% of your childcare costs , that's just the amount that is added as another element. Hope that makes sense !

@Babyroobs we are not entitled to any other elements except the childcare one. Would that still make a difference? Thanks for replying

It's not possible not to be entitled to no other elements. if you make a UC claim you get all the elements that you are entitled to and that will include a couples element and a child element, and rent element if you rent. These will be clearly shown on your statement. It's not possible just to claim childcare.

When there was a mistake made before (I forgot to upload childcare costs when I first claimed), my payment was £0 and they said were not entitled to it cos we both earn too much but we can get the childcare element? My statement does show all elements but again we earn too much to receive any of them

Yes so when you forgot to upload the invoices for childcare that meant that the childcare element wouldn't have been added to the other elements so your wages may have been too high to get any help but wages still reduce the overall award, and depending on wages you possibly wont receive 85% of childcare back because your wages will reduce the whole award. Sorry I'm probably not explaining it well. Also if either of you get paid weekly or four weekly that could affect how many pay days fall in your assessment period so could potentially mean more or less UC.