UC childcare on mat leave

[Jmcd1996]

Hi,

Ive been on mat leave since 02/05/2024. Meaning my mat pay runs out this month. I have been claiming universal credit to claim my childcare fees for my two children who are at nursery throughout mat leave which I know is allowed as they were already in nursery before I went off.

however, I’m unsure as to whether I can continue to do this in the last 3 months of my mat leave which will obviously be unpaid? There is no clear answer anywhere and I don’t want to end up not being entitled to it as I would have to remove them from nursery for 3 months for them then to return when I go back to work. Does anybody know if I will still be entitled to claim the 85% back in the last 3 months as I won’t be getting SMP?

I think you get a two month run on. Although if you do some KIT days that will look like you are back earning again

There’s a month after that you can then I used a few days annual leave/kit days to have some money in for the month so you can still claim.
you can also combine the funded hours with the UC 85%

So I can have a month of no SMO and can still claim it? X

SMP sorry

So I can have a full month of no SMP and still be able to claim the childcare?

So can I still claim it with no SMP or would I need to do KIT days?

2 month run on when you don't earn anything, but any subsequent months, you need to earn something in order to claim

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it x

@Jmcd1996 hi there! I'm on the same boat at the moment. SMP will be paid one more month then I'll have 2-3 months unpaid until I return to work. Did you end up still getting paid back for the childcare costs? Thank you so much!

I got it for 2 months but did do 2 kit days.