UC Flexible Support Fund - Childcare / Maternity Leave

[Justgrabmystuff]

Hello

I’ve had conflicting advice on this so hoping someone can clarify. Can I get help from
the FSF with my first month’s childcare upfront if I’m returning to work after maternity leave? One source has told me that I can at the discretion of my Work Coach, and another has told me this type of support is prohibited because I’ve been on maternity leave. Which is it?

I’ve sent a journal message but still no response two days later and I need to know if I should consider applying for a credit card to cover the amount instead. Sadly, I don’t just have £800 in savings at the moment. I wasn’t anticipating the cost of everything skyrocketing when I budgeted for my mat leave and I’m a lone parent with no other financial support.

Thank you for reading and for any guidance 😊

Also check if you have to pay back mat pay if you don't go back!

Oh I’m not on Mat leave haha

I am working part- time in a school and switching to full time nannying (a £25,000 wage increase) single mum

So that’s why I read upping hours and salary can make me suitable for the fund, but we shall see, if not, i’ll work 4 days per month, and come out with £2,100 anyway so their loss 🤣🤣🤣

Hi sory could I ask how you got the 85% paid back- I got help with flexible support for child care last month as I increase my hours at work- they have not paid me back 85% of the fees and struggling to know what I’ve done wrong thank you

@Paige56x are you going to your account and then on the childcare you submit it. You pay one month and then you put the claim in and they give it you back in the next assessment period.

If that hasn’t happened, immediately get in touch with them through the journal and they should pay it to you. Very rarely they can make an error. Mine has never been missed.

@Paige56x sorry, I miss read what you said!!!

So you actually got the childcare paid from the flexible support fund??

How long did it take to get that?

And do you mean that you then put the childcare in for the next month in the same month and they haven’t paid you this back?

Yeah! They paid directly to nursery on 8th August, I then submitted on 25th the costs so that in my next statement I would get paid like I normally do when I submit and I got my statement yesterday and recieved 0 childcare even though I submitted £950 paid by the flexible support and £200 I paid my self

@Paige56x

so I need to pay my fees on Monday and I’ve been asking them for three weeks! I’ve actually sent another message and they said they have forwarded this to the job centre yesterday. Can I ask the process and how long it took you?

If I were you, I would ring them today because they are open and just ask them directly. I’m sure it’s pay it to you maybe this week?!

Hi Paige, doesn't your universal credit pay date take into consideration a previous month for its award period / statement period. For example, mine is paid 3rd September for 28th July to 27th August. So by that meaning you won't see yours until next month, as they pay reimbursement in arrears.

Yeah so mine is from 1-31 of August so the child care was paid for that period so I should have got it in my statement for September. I’ve never had a problem for 2 years when I’ve submitted the costs and I paid for it.. it’s just cause last month I increased my hours and got help through the flexible support fund and this hasn’t been added on but I’ve been told I have to wait until Monday to speak to someone

Hi paige, well hopefully it goes okay. I was informed from the complaint team for dwp that they you can't get the fsf to pay for childcare and get it reimbursed. So most you'll see is 85% from that 200 you paid, unless I was misinformed...again by them. Nobody seemed sure of what was going on when I was asking for guidance, seems they cover their a** by saying its the discretion of the work coach.
Fingers crossed it gets sorted.

@Mumofgirls89

Flexible Support FundYou may be able to get help from the Flexible Support Fund if you have to pay upfront childcare costs and one of the following applies:

• you’re starting work
• you’re increasing the hours you work, for example you’ve moved from part-time work to full-time work

Use your online account or contact your work coach to ask about help from the Flexible Support Fund. Your work coach will decide if you’re eligible for help from the Flexible Support Fund. They’ll consider things like:

• whether the childcare provider was registered
• whether the amount being charged is reasonable for the local area
• whether you could have got help with childcare payments from elsewhere

Your work coach will complete some forms with you. They’ll give you form FSF3 that has a section you’ll need to ask your childcare provider to complete. You do not have to pay back money from the Flexible Support Fund. You can then claim up to 85% of those childcare costs to be paid with your Universal Credit. That could give you money towards the next month’s childcare costs.

according to the UC website you can get 85% back thr same month to pay for the next

So a little bit of an update.

I managed to get the forms. My Nursery was refusing to sign them because they said they have been waiting too long for a previous payment. I’ve got them signed anyway, because you know I’m going to need help paying them.

As soon as I’ve sent them, I’ll get a message on my account and I click that I’ve done that and then I can apply for the cost for October.

amy

I'm happy for you that you've received the support!

Hi,
I’m returning to work on soon and my kids are due to start nursery on the same day. I’m trying to get FSF to pay my first months childcare as I’m a single mum to two. Obviously since having my baby I’ve been on maternity leave to which I handed in my notice last month. I have since got a new job but they are saying I don’t qualify as I’m returning from maternity but I’m not it’s a new job and a new company!!

I was just wondering if anyone has been in my position and could help me to if they managed to get FSF as I’m just a bit lost !

I'm returning to work from Maternity leave after 2 years, I just separated from Husband last month and am awaiting my first universal credit payment end of January, I really need the fsf for my first childcare payment or I can't return to work.

I've sent a message today to see if they can help me.

The fsf for childcare is to start a new job not to return to work usually.

If you're waiting on a first payment, you can try to ask for an advance payment which you'll have to pay back but maybe that could help?

Unfortunately it is usually if you start a new job or substantially increase your working hours.

I spoke to a work coach this morning and she said that I would be able to get it.

I'm in Northern Ireland though and have only just applied to Universal credit last month so maybe that's why they are allowing me after Maternity because my whole circumstances have changed