Childcare whilst on maternity allowance

[evie0302]

I’m currently unemployed due to severe sickness with my current pregnant (23 weeks) and a single parent

my two other children go to nursery 2 days a week whilst I worked (was 3, reduced after losing job) and UC pays 85% of the fees otherwise I couldn’t afford to go to work

when baby is born I will be claiming maternity allowance not SMP as I don’t qualify

will UC still pay 85% of the fees whilst I am receiving maternity allowance and not employed? I know I won’t be expected to have a job until baby is older.

im not entitled to 30 funded hours, only 15 and that stretched over the year will cost £160 a month

I want to keep them in for two days as they’re in a good routine & my eldest starts school next September so would worry about her going from nothing to full time school if I had to take them out.

TLDR; Will UC still pay 85% childcare whilst on maternity allowance?

Looks like it: If you’re on maternity, paternity, adoption or neonatal care leave, you may also be eligible if you’re getting one of:

Statutory Maternity Pay
Statutory Paternity Pay
Statutory Shared Parental Pay
Statutory Adoption Pay
Maternity Allowance
Statutory Neonatal C
are Paywww.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Unfortunately you’d need to be in paid Work to continue getting help via UC (Maternity Allowance wouldn’t count unless you’re currently Employed or Self-Employed).

It will only be covered if you’re employed. So on maternity leave from work for a job that you will go back into.