UC childcare costs help!

[user1497985533]

So I’m looking to get back into work within the next few months & all this funding malarkey is confusing me!

The nursery my son will be attending only has set hours - AM, PM & full day which is 7am- 6.30pm. I’ll be working part time, approximately 5hour shifts but will have to choose the full day option as that’s the only one that covers the working hours. Will they only fund 5 hours or will they fund a full day?

It's confusing me so much!

But, it doesn't fund the hours you are working, it'll be the full days and extra as they are long days.

Is there no option for AM session plus additional hours? Just asking as that's what my nursery can do.

Yes they will cover the full nursery day, I've never had issue with it

Don’t make it easy for newbies do they!😂

So you’re saying they will fund 85% of a full nursery day although I’m technically only working half? Sorry I’m easily confused haha

Unfortunately they don’t!

Yes, whatever you bill is you can claim 85% back.

One thing I've read though is it also goes off your assessment period.
So you don't necessarily get it all back at once, just what days fall in that period.

They will pay towards the full day, however if the fees are deemed excessive they may investigate and may decide to only fund some of it.

They also don’t pay 85% to me and my dp, they add it into the calculation, and then minus off however many pence per pound that we earn. We are only slightly better off on UC than the tax free childcare, but we find claiming UC helps in other ways, we are on a social water tariff for example and we get the warm home discount, plus memberships to a discount supermarket and cheap swimming and gym at the council facility.