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Original poster

universal credit question and advice needed please 🙏🏻

15 replies

brbjusthavingabreakdown · 10/09/2025 19:45

Hi need some advice please I will be returning to work after maternity leave. (ex partner never involved).
my baby will be starting nursery and the first month fees are £400 for two weeks then the second month are £800 for a full month.
ive been told by UC i do not qualify for a loan nor any upfront help to cover anything until ive paid the invoice first. i appreciate i will be reimbursed some of the costs but i cannot afford them up front.
managed to ask a friend to lend me the £400 and il pay it back once received from uc. but that wont cover the second months fees of £800 and i dont know what to do 😩 i have no way of getting it on credit nor any more people who can help. i wont be able to use my wages as this will paying towards my rent other bills and living expenses.

as i have to work a month in hand so my first wage i wont get until ive been back a month. i explained this to uc and they said i have to pay them
both upfront. no other options.
i am really trying my best after my ex partner left us during my pregnancy and doesn’t contribute a single penny.

does anyone have any advice or suggestions please 🙏🏻

thanks xx

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 10/09/2025 19:47

Unfortunately unless you can find someone/somewhere to lend you the money there is no other option really, UC will reimburse you but only after you have paid x

Fluffyowl00 · 10/09/2025 19:50

Could you get a credit card and use that for living expenses until you get paid? With a credit card you usually get at least 30 days before any interest is added, and by then you will have the money. Just pay it off in full then and cancel it. Sorry I know it’s not ideal.

Otherwise you could try and ask for an advance of your salary and explain it’s for childcare?

RaininSummer · 10/09/2025 20:20

They may be wrong . Contact them and ask about upfront childcare fees as you are returning to work. If they agree, there is paperwork to take to the nursery and you will have to provide a letter or invoices. Make sure to point out that you have already asked as they may say it's too late as you gave paid but if you were given incorrect advice they put tounpick that.

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 11/09/2025 18:00

RaininSummer · 10/09/2025 20:20

They may be wrong . Contact them and ask about upfront childcare fees as you are returning to work. If they agree, there is paperwork to take to the nursery and you will have to provide a letter or invoices. Make sure to point out that you have already asked as they may say it's too late as you gave paid but if you were given incorrect advice they put tounpick that.

They aren't wrong.

RaininSummer · 11/09/2025 20:35

Why do you say that? Usually if a person is returning to work or increasing work hours, they can ask ask for this support if they have the entitlement to UC. Very often there are misunderstandings around what is being asked for. Regular childcare does have to be paid for in advance and claimed back each assessment period. The problem might be that OP has already paid some costs but normally up to three months can be supported.

DrCoconut · 11/09/2025 20:40

Everyone who carps about idle single mums not working, claiming benefits etc needs to read this. Unless you have access to money or other family help the system is heavily rigged against you succeeding. I bet there are loads of people who could bring so much to a workplace but have practical obstacles like this in their way. I know for many on here £800 is pocket change but to people on UC it represents a lot of money and is not possible to "just" get hold of.

welcometotheblackparadee · 11/09/2025 20:41

Agree with @RaininSummerin that you definitely need to speak to them again, preferably in person.

When I returned to work after Uni there was no way on earth I could afford the upfront nursery and after school fees. Raised it with my work coach and they were able to support me with them after filling in some additional paperwork (sorry, can’t remember what it’s called).

RaininSummer · 11/09/2025 20:42

It's part of the flexible support fund support.

Fabgwin · 11/09/2025 20:49

Ask UC about flexible support fund

Danikm151 · 12/09/2025 07:13

Flexible support fund can be used but it’s at the discretion of your work coach. It used to be that if you were employed already and returning from maternity leave you couldn’t get it but they’re less restrictive now. Explain that you do not have the funds to pay up front and you will have to leave work if you can’t pay for nursery.

Remember it’s only up to 85% that will be paid so you wouldn’t have the full £400 to give back to the person lending.

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 12/09/2025 07:26

RaininSummer · 11/09/2025 20:35

Why do you say that? Usually if a person is returning to work or increasing work hours, they can ask ask for this support if they have the entitlement to UC. Very often there are misunderstandings around what is being asked for. Regular childcare does have to be paid for in advance and claimed back each assessment period. The problem might be that OP has already paid some costs but normally up to three months can be supported.

You only get it if returning to a job with increased hours or a new job.

Thissickbeat · 12/09/2025 07:32

Sadly UC pays in arrears and encourages debt. (Whereas tax credits paid childcare in advance).

It's not you brbj it's the stupid system. Sorry you've got to deal with it.

Kc1999x · 14/09/2025 14:32

Asking on behalf of someone-

I have a friend who claims UC. She has 4 children, one born in 2011, 2018,2020, and 2022. Am I right in thinking that the first child isn’t included in the 2 child benefit cap because they are born before 2017 and that she should be getting paid for 3 out of 4 of the children?

Thank you in advance☺️

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 14/09/2025 15:24

Kc1999x · 14/09/2025 14:32

Asking on behalf of someone-

I have a friend who claims UC. She has 4 children, one born in 2011, 2018,2020, and 2022. Am I right in thinking that the first child isn’t included in the 2 child benefit cap because they are born before 2017 and that she should be getting paid for 3 out of 4 of the children?

Thank you in advance☺️

No they are included. She will only get money for the first two. Only difference is you get more for a child born before April 2017.

ThreeFeetTall · 14/09/2025 15:46

Yes those are the correct rules. Yes they are batshit. There was a legal challenge to them but the government ultimately won and I don’t think it could be appealed any further? (Happy to be corrected if that is not up to date)
the details can be found here https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2021/11/15/court-of-appeal-upholds-universal-credit-childcare-rules/amp/

I think saying that women can go and ask for a discretionary fund that may or not be granted by an individual work coach is not a good enough system.
but it’s worth a try OP all the same.

Court of Appeal upholds Universal Credit childcare rules - UK Human Rights Blog

Salvato v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2021] EWCA Civ 1482 — read judgment The Court of Appeal has allowed the Secretary of State’s appeal against a ruling that the system of calculating childcare for Universal Credit indirectly discrimina...

https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2021/11/15/court-of-appeal-upholds-universal-credit-childcare-rules/amp/

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