UC childcare

[Cantgetausername87]

Hey mumsnet. I've been researching and asked UC but couldn't get an straight answer.
I'm currently waiting for a UC statement next month after finally leaving abusive partner.
I know I need to pay childcare upfront then claim it back. However how long does the payment back take? Is it like in next month's payment? I work and can cover myself it's just my nursery bill which is giving me a headache! Any experience or advise is greatly appreciated as finances are my biggest worry right now!
Thank you.

Anyone please?

I'd expect them to be added in the monthly assessment period in which you added the paid invoices to your account but not if you've paid in advance so that some costs are attributed to the next AP.

@Bromptotoo it's such a minefield! So when I applied i submitted a nursery bill so would I expect that to be in my first statement? Then I'll submit one in between which will be I'm the following month?
Sorry for my silly questiosn I've never claimed UC or any sort of benefit and really don't understand/ can't find explanations!

I know you've tagged someone else but yes that is how it works.

Good luck is all I say! I paid for and submitted mine in September. I've done nothing but chase and re add it since. You can't claim for sundries ( absolutely fine) and you can't claim for any lunch time cover, ie child attends morning session, has lunch provided by you and then stays for afternoon session. As they deem the childcare cover over lunch not part of nursery fees. Again this is fine... but when submitting invoice and proof of payment this doesn't add up as you pay the whole invoice and then have to deduct what they don't pay for.
I've finally had it excepted today but only after asking for complaints policy as I have repeated done as they have asked, bit a different person views it each time without going back through your journey to see what has been asked.
I would recommend adding a note. For example invoice amount is ... I have deducted x y for the following and this leaves z.
It's really hard and I wish I had never increased my hours to better myself and family as I honestly don't even earn in a working day the amount in fee I now pay nursery.

@Cantgetausername87 if you're new to UC then, as ever, these guys are your go to

@Nousernamesavaliable now that sounds awful! I think because when applying they don't even tell you what they will and will not cover or how much they will pay you. Its such a guessing game and I can't find any clarification on what they cover nursery wise just "up to 85%" but like you say it's only impacting working families.
This fills me with dread and all I can do is wait...

Make sure what you pay matches the invoice.

They will pay you back for any childcare used within that assessment period. So if you are invoiced 1st-31st of the month, but your assessment period is 9th September - 10th October then you will get paid anything you submitted from 9th September onwards, and to up the 10th of anything you've paid this month.