Universal credit and childcare

[Cakequeen1988]

I previously used entitledto which calculated I would be entitled to universal credit for childcare. I uploaded all the documents etc and then my online advisor said I couldn’t get UC as I pay for the childcare via Childcare vouchers (the scheme provided via my employer) is this correct? They said they would have to see that this was paid ‘cash’ out of my bank account in order to recieved the universal credit. This doesn’t seem fair and I’m not sure which is financially the best thing to do….does anyone know?

Any help appreciated

Yea you can’t use both universal credits and childcare vouchers. It depends how much universal credit you will get as to which is better . Childcare vouchers you save roughly 20% of 243 max a month I think so if it’s more than that worth switching .

UC is worth more. It pays up to 85% up to £646 a month. They've phased the childcare vouchers scheme out.

I'd imagine UC pays out more. Childcare vouchers only allowed you to claim up to £240 and we saved about £50 a month between DH and I both using our individual £240 each.

UC is about 2/3 or 80% of childcare isn't it?

You will be better off on UC

Can you use tax free childcare scheme plus get universal credit for childcare?

@Cakequeen1988 no that is incorrect you can use childcare vouchers for the portion that UC does not cover.
It’s child free tax care you can’t claim .

@Cakequeen1988 so you need to pay the 15% of cost you pay abs claim for via UC yourself. Any additional childcare costs you can claim childcare vouchers for. UC adviser are poorly trained and are not understanding you can use vouchers for the additional childcare costs.
To pp’s it’s better not to post if you aren’t sure of something.