Help!! I haven’t made enough money to meet childcare requirements

[SackJellington]

So 1 DC in nursery. I started my business last year and had 12 months at 30 free hours. In January when I submit my accounts it will be clear I haven’t made enough money as my 12 months will be up.

So what happens? They say there is a grace period. How long is it? When will I get cut down to 15 hours? I am not complaining, I get why this has happened, just trying to get an idea of what will happen going forward.

I’m such a failure. I don’t think we will be able to afford the extra hours so DC will have to scale back potentially which will be tricky. I am looking for alternative work now as I have to accept my business has failed.

OP, I'm self-employed so I do understand the issues involved in project work — but what on earth were you doing working on something without being paid upfront for your work? Obviously you can take the risk of working all year for nothing in the hope it'll pay off, but then you can't really complain that you took a wild punt and it didn't pay off, can you?

I think it sounds as if you'd do better being properly employed. You've had a year of free childcare. Now back to reality.

@SackJellington apologies, I can’t help with the childcare element. It does sound like you will be fine though so try not to worry.

Regarding the job though, I’m wondering do you have a contract or similar? Maybe there’s a way to claim part of the money from them as they’ve given you the go ahead and you’ve started working on it? As an aside maybe put something in writing for future work, and I do think you should continue. It sounds like you’ve found something you enjoy doing and are good at, please don’t let this experience put you off. Lots of business don’t make anything in their first year and it takes a few years to get going. Good luck with whatever you decide to do ❤️

I’m not complaining and I haven’t complained. In fact I’ve said it’s my own stupidity. It didn’t seem like a wild punt at the time, I know I’m good at what I do. But I think I got sucked in to a project and took my eye off security.

But thanks for putting the boot in.

For everyone having a pop at the OP I've run a successful branding agency for 21 years, we work on a 30 day payment. I've recently had to absorb over £45k of a client literally ghosting us.

They have used our service for 40+ days and subsequently folded the business, we are not the only ones impacted.

But shit happens people are arseholes.

Cone January they will not pay for the childcare, or only 15 hours of it depending on age.

Grace period end dates are always the last date of March, August or December

When are you next due to reconfirm?

Surely you qualify for the hours because your husband works? Am I missing something? Is your child not his? But even so, if you are in the same household?

September. So I’ll say that I’m no longer expecting the money and hopefully I’ll have secured a job in another industry soon.

It’s because it’s my first year self employed.

I didn't know that was a thing. But still, don't you qualify for 30 hours anyway - or will very soon? Doesn't it apply from 2 years old now? Or is it something the Tories talked about but didn't implement?

Ok, so if you say you no longer meet the earnings requirements when you reconfirm in September you can claim the funding to the grace period end date that is currently on your code.
I'm guessing you should be able to see that date on your childcare account?
Or emails you have received with your code dates.

It will most likely be 31/12/2024 if you last reconfirmed in June.

I don’t think so? I think it’s just for certain employment still isn’t it?

But was that initial 12 months not the grace period?

I am on my account and I can’t see anything, just that I need to reconfirm in September, I’m so confused with all of it. But yes I will let them no at the reconfirmation that I no longer expect the money.

You both have to earn the equivalent of 16 hours for the funding for working parents (as of tomorrow 15 hours for 9 months and up), so a family with one SAHP couldn’t claim on the working parents free hours.

I think that will sort it all out

I don’t quite understand to be honest, that’s why I posted.

Sorry was semi - rhetorical and entirely unhelpful! They make the process as complicated as possible I swear. I know I’ve heard of a grace period but I think (not an expert!) that the 12 month self employed is the grace period in those circumstances - I.e they’ve given you 12 months exemption so can’t give you further. I’ve phoned them a few times and whilst it takes a while to get through they’ve always been really helpful!

I am not expecting lots of extra time or anything, I get that I’m not entitled to it, I just didn’t understand how it all worked and was really worried about being fined. I’ll just let it take its course.

Yeah I totally got that from your initial post so I don't know why you're getting grief

I think as long as you tell them at the next re confirmation you’ll be fine, you’ll probably just lose the hours

If you log into your childcare choices account it should show you when your grace period runs until. If you can’t find it ask your childcare provider, they should be able to see on their funding portal.
I deal with funding at our Pre-school by the way.

I can’t see this at all, just says I need to reconfirm and they’ll be in touch soon

That doesn’t happen in this line of work. But I have been working the whole time. The project was dropped, it was out of my control.

But I’ve already said I’m applying for day to day jobs and called myself stupid repeatedly. You don’t need to keep on at me. I do get it, I’m the one in this position.