Minimum threshold for childcare funding higher than Mat pay - confused.

[Bluewhitefloral]

I’ve been getting funded childcare hours for my DD and am going on maternity leave with my DS in 3 weeks time.

I have to confirm eligibility every 3 months for the funding but I’ve noticed that it asks if you will earn at least £195.86 before tax per week over the next 3 months which I think you do before you are eligible. So this has never been a problem as I have been eligible since first applying.

I will be receiving statutory mat pay which, once the 6 week 90% ends, goes down to £187.18 per week - less than the minimum threshold required for receipt of the funding!

As usual I can’t get any clarity on this from the official funding sites (unless I’m missing something) but now I’m worrying because if I can’t continue to get the funding then I won’t be able to afford to send my DD to nursery!

I’m hoping someone in the same boat or is currently receiving funding for their eldest but who is also off on statutory maternity pay for their second/third child can provide some reassurance or advice?

TIA x

One of the reconfirmation questions is about being on a maternity leave so you click yes to that and then you’ll still be eligible for the funding for your eldest

im having the same issue, have you done this recently as I’m having trouble finding the question that is for maternity leave? TIA

No recently but I’ve been on may leave twice and both times the question about leave is once you e checked all the personal details

If you are on maternity leave, why do you need childcare? You are at home, so can look after both kids? And, yes, this is what we did in the years before funded hours for younger kids - pulled the oldest from nursery as we just couldn't afford it.

I thought being on maternity leave was a one of the criteria for being eligible. Im sure this has been discussed at my work

Are you in England, the government websites are usually pretty clear

Hi, I was having this problem too, I’ve spoke to the childcare service and you do still get the funding even on statutory maternity pay. Where it says work details make sure you select it and go through submitting all your work details again and the option for maternity leave comes up. They talked me through it over the phone if that helps.

Ah ok! This all makes sense now. I should be ok for the next 3 months as I’m still in work for a few weeks then on the 90% for 6 weeks, all
that averaged out will come to over that threshold, it’s just after that I will change it to stat mat pay. Thank you!

@DongDingBell Now there is funding I am absolutely taking advantage of it even if I am on mat leave. Taking my DD out of nursery would mean that when I go back to work I would have to reapply to put her back in, getting the same days wouldn’t be guaranteed (she does 2 nursery days a week) and nursery has been so great for her development I wouldn’t want to take her away from that if it can be avoided.

When you say we you don't mean everyone do you because that's not what people did when my children were at nursery pre funding

Good nursery places were in short supply, in my circle it would have made getting a place when going back to work after a 2nd child very difficult if not impossible

Reducing hours was what most did as probably they weren't going back full time when they had 2 young children. Plus it was good for the older child to maintain what they were used to and enjoyed

You make it sound like an unusual bad thing

Yes so true.
we put LO in nursery since 1 as we couldn’t afford mortgage if I left work etc- but even if circumstances changed and could afford to work less wouldn’t change the set up we have with nursery now. It’s been so beneficial to LO who gets different things from nursery group setting that they wouldn’t get at home.

I haven’t been in that position but I’m glad people can still get funding while on maternity leave.