Issues with 30 hours childcare - denied funding for this term!

[Firstaidnovice]

gah, this might be a bit ranty because I've just come off the most frustrating phone call with HMRC. Wondering if anyone else has had similar?
Basically, I was late reconfirming my code (although only because I got a confusing email from them in July - said I had 3 months to reconfirm, and then that I had to reconfirm on the 11th August). Anyway, I didn't receive an email reminder. I confirmed at the beginning of September, got an automated email telling me my reconfirmation was successful, all was fine.
Then DS's nursery contacted me to say the local council weren't accepting the code.
Called HMRC today, and have been told because I was "late", I am not eligible for funding for this term. Despite having sent me a message telling me the opposite, and them not contacting me in any other way to tell me this.
I am fucking furious, and have just cried. I can't afford to pay for the extra hours! But if I take DS out of nursery then I can't work either (I'm self employed, and scraping by). The man was most unhelpful, and despite me asking to speak to a supervisor, basically refused. Is there a complaints/appeals procedure? I can't see anything on the stupid website.

Unfortunately once you miss the deadline there’s no way the nursery can claim back pay from the borough. We have deadlines too and there are submission dates for funding as well as your renewal deadline. It all has a knock on effect if you don’t renew.

I’m not aware of a complaints procedure (by your own admission you were late renewing) and in any case, the nursery won’t be able to wait that long to be paid. It could take weeks/ months and I can’t see they will be happy to wait knowing they still might not get paid and the bill getting larger.

Sorry it sounds awful.

Actually, have they said why the code is no longer valid? Maybe the reason can be explored?

In order for the autumn funding for the extended 15 hours to be processed in early September all codes needed to be rechecked for eligibility by 31st August. Your childcare provider should have reminded all eligible claimants to go online in August. The childcare provider has to submit each child’s claim to the LA in early September. We are all told that if a parent doesn’t recheck the code then the 15 hours extended funding is not available. If a parent can prove they did check eligibility before 31/8 and HMRC didn’t issue a code the LA has the ability to draw down funds. All codes need to be rechecked every 3 months to ensure that the parent(s) eligibility hasn’t changed. It would be worth putting reminders in your phone to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. You should still be in receipt of the universal 15 hours funding as all 3 & 4 years olds can receive it.

yes, I was late, although the first message was ambiguous (it told me I had to renew within 3 months, and it was sent in early July, although it separately gave a date of the 11th August).

My main issue is that they sent me a message on the 11th September, after I reconfirmed (late) saying

"You've successfully reconfirmed your eligibility for 30 hours free childcare for DS.

You'll need to reconfirm your eligibility again in 3 months' time. Your next reconfirmation date is 11 November 2018 "

And on that basis I've merrily been sending DS off for a nursery place that I can't afford to pay for (I will of course actually pay the nursery, it's just not money I really have). I just don't understand how HMRC can send me a message saying one thing, but actually mean the opposite?

If I had known I would have looked into reducing his hours somehow this term so I could afford it.

I have just been through this.

If you didn't receive an email reminder then you can complain and they will send you a claims for to reclaim the 30 hours back from HMRC. You'll have to pay the nursery in the first place tho, then claim back.

I spoke to someone really helpful at HMRC who said to hinge the complaint on the fact that I didn't get an email. In your case maybe you got one but it was contradictory or confusing? HMRC can give you the web address to submit the complaint through and then HMRC write to you about the form (I think, maybe they emailed).

It’s more about making sure the borough still accept the code after the deadline and pay the nursery. Ours are really strict.

told me I had to renew within 3 months

Just for future, the codes have to be renewed every 3 months so this sentence will mean ‘within 3 months’ of the last time you renewed.

Georgie - I reconfirmed with HMRC and gave nursery the code before the borough deadline. And I have an email from HMRC after my reconfirmation saying it was all good.
It's only because they refused to pay, and I called HMRC that they bothered to tell me I wasn't eligible. They have told me the fact that they sent me an email saying the exact opposite is irrelevant.
Also, I did reconfirm within three months if my previous date. I confirmed early July, and then on the 11th September. I have checked, and my email says both "within three months" and separately "by the 11th August". Which is ambiguous.
Anyway, I'm going to try and appeal on the basis of their contradictory communications, but I'm not holding my breath.

I have been presently surprised. I expected them to make me jump through hoops, but they just said "sorry you've experienced problems with our system" and told me how to claim.

As a nursery owner I can confirm that the deadlines are just that- the deadline. Codes have to be renewed by the date shown or else the funding is just stopped.... until the following term. The nursery has no say over the dates and when they go to enter the details in... its just a big fat 'computer says no' with no option to override it.

Once you are in the period of time when you need to reconfirm you go into a 'grace period' which ends at the end of the term... which is why your funding ended I guess :(

We do however get a bit of warning (well we do in my LA) we have a 'dash board' which shows everyones code with those who's code s about to run out highlighted in red. Once I see a parent on this 'red list' I do contact them direct and 'badger' them until they reconfirm.I spend many many hrs chasing parents as HMRC haven't sent reminder emails- its not my job to chaise (and I know a lot of nurseries simply don't have the man power or time to do this) but I know how much this funding means to families and so want to help them.

HMRC haven't made this easy!!!

I agree. Although technically it's your fault for not renewing, you can appeal to HMRC, because they didn't send a reminder.

There have been numerous glitches with the government’s childcare websites ( usually because the website design is contracted out to the lowest bidder.) Often there’s a conflict if you’re claiming multiple types of benefit, eg free hours as well as childcare vouchers or tax free childcare.

Some of these issues are covered on Martin Lewis's moneysavingexpert website, together with advice on how get them sorted out. It might be worth raising the issue on that site, as they often investigate things brought to their attention by the general public.

Thanks everyone.
I just want to be clear that I'm angry with HMRC, and my beef is entirely with them, not nursery. I wouldn't expect the nursery to chase me to renew the code, and the email that I have the real issue with is the one from HMRC telling me I had reconfirmed my eligibility successfully.
I think I'll have a go appealing, but also will check out moneysavingexpert. I googled and the issue about childcare vouchers from earlier in the year came up. It feels like they have put unnecessary hurdles in; and I very strongly feel that if they are going to take away your 30 hours funding for a term, even if it's your own fault, they should tell you!

Hi,
I've had similar experiences. Daughters code was accepted, funding accepted, reconfirmed funding 4 times including in Dec. 31st December the nursery message me to tell me I've not confirmed and I've now missed the deadline. How? I've still not no explanation but there was a message that I have had no notification of stating I needed to complete a self assessment for my self employment ( even though this was not applicable as I do not earn enough) hubby works full time, so they've now refused us any funding at all? How is this possible? The nursery accepted the funding a long with HMRC? Great way to start the NY. So now we're probably in debt with nursery now as weve accepted the 11 hrs funding so what happens now?? :( very anxious, worried and quite frankly miffed off.

I’d say check your renewal dates before end of each term as these will be the cut off points.

If you don't earn enough through your self employment then you are not eligible for the working family funding. Both parents/carers need to be in paid employment earning a minimum of £186 per week. That's the criteria.

Unfortunately the local authority will not receive the funding if you didn't renew your code in time. It is parental responsibility to keep the funding code in date. It's an expensive oversight but you would have been told when you first obtained the code what the renewal date was. Just ensure that you know what the end date is ready for April so you don't make the same mistake again. Unfortunately for this term you will not be eligible for the funding.

Hello, I am aware how long ago this was, but did you have any luck with claiming back?

HMRC do not explain the funding clearly enough. I am a nursery manager and have seen this a few times - just because a code has been given and reconfirmed does not mean it is valid immediately. The whole system stinks tbh. Have a go at appealing - I have had a parent be successful in this