Child care nursury costs

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We can't afford any fees up front, and would be asking the government for help, how does this work and do you register your baby then get the money how does it work can't afford anything up front for care

Keep going with the breastfeeding. No-one tells you how hard it is for the first few weeks and it seemed to me like it wasn't working at all, but it was, it gets a little bit easier every day and by 6 weeks or so it's not hard at all. It should really be acknowledged more openly how painful, frustrating and difficult it is to begin with. If you can keep it up, it will save you a ton in formula, bottles and so on.

Tea not the thresholds for support are much higher for childcare only.

• no

Op you've had some good advice on this thread. you really need to talk things through with your DP as it can be difficult to think through logically when you are 7 days PP.

a few posters have asked you when you need to return to work but you haven't answered -this is obviously important as the longer you have the more options you have

just to reiterate a few of the points made already

1. are you sure you are eligible for Universal Credit? it has not been fully rolled out yet across the country and even in areas where it has been introduced it may only be partially rolled out. if your area or circs are not covered then you will need to look at tax credits instead.

UC is for those on a low income- you haven't mentioned your own salary but given your DP takes come £1500 per month when added to your salary I doubt you will get much near the max amount for childcare if you are eligible at all.

have you put your figures into the calculator here www.entitled to.co.uk ? this will also tell you if you can claim universal credit or whether you need to claim tax credits

1. it would be a good idea to have a look around at other childcare providers as not all require fees in advance - do you have any council run nurseries eg at your local childrens centre as they often will accept fees in arrears.

1. if all else fails then as has been suggested you could "return" to work and immediately book holiday for first month assuming you have accrued enough leave during your matenity and then use this pay to pay for childcare following month.

When you were pregnant for 9 months than what was your childcare plan? Did you save any of the deposit for nursery from your earnings before you went on mat leave.
Can you get a bank loan or credit union or borrow from family?
Save £50 per month plus £20 child benefit makes £70 per month.

Speak to your health visitor.

Good luck 🍀

Why do you think the government/tax payers should fund your childcare? Many people go back to work an all their salary is used to pay for childcare.

You have not bothered to save for this DC
You have not bothered to think about paying for childcare

But think that it should all be paid for you

How is that fair

I suggest you try again or maybe just look after your own DC

My childminder I paid in arrears and she is amazing childcare. I never had to find an upfront payment. However yes a large chunk of my income and my partners income goes to childcare.

Given how much you say your dp earns if that's after tax and with your full time wage on top (even if your on min wage) it's unlikely you'd be entitled to any tax credits/ universal credit. If you do get anything it's unlikely to be anywhere near the amount of full time nursery fees. If I was you I'd be looking at other options ie reducing your hours or condensing your days so longer hours fewer days. If your dp works Mon to Fri could you work weekends instead?
You don't say what your job is how much you get paid or when you need to return to work so it's hard to be more specific.

It's highly unlikely the government will pay you anywhere near £800 A month child care so it's not only the month up front you'll need to find that amount it's every month thereafter 🤔

No wouldn't need the full amount at all... Wish I hadn't come on here now some mums been amazing to me, and some been horrible and I'm sensitive at the moment and feeling scared and low

I've been following this thread and am confused about Universal Credit, I hadn't heard of it until this thread.

Surely if the partner brings home £1'500 and the OP also has an income then they wouldn't be getting any financial help - sounds a bit weird to me?

I'm happy to be corrected though as I'm genuinely interested as to what household income enables someone to claim for it??

Said help with housing costs that where the £400 is

£400 is what?

What do you bring home each month from your job?

(I'm only asking because both my sister and my mum work in the benefits system and so they may have some ideas about what can help you).

No one is being horrible to you at all. Just because your not being told what you want to hear that's not being horrible. Many people have given you ideas and options etc which you've dismissed each one. Short of someone volunteering to give you the upfront cost for your child's nursery I'm not sure what it is you want from this thread

It says £400 is for help with housing costs that's what the calculations say, basically husband brings home £1500 and me £1061 per month and we would have weekly childcare of £170

So your joint income is £2'500 yet you are still entitled to Universal Credit?

Assume you rent?

OP if you choose to transfer to UC be aware there is a 6wk period of no payment while your claim is started, you can ask for an advance but it's paid back from the 1st payment you receive. I've seen a lot of people caught out by that. Good luck

Your joint income is very similar to what ours was until recently, and we could only ever get Child Care Vouchers.

This thread confuses me .
Anyone else ?

I've just spoken to my mom who works for the DWP and she said it would be very unlikely that a household where the income is £2'500 is very unlikely to be awarded Universal Credit.

If you are relying on this OP I would make a telephone call to someone who can advise you properly as opposed to just doing an online calculator.

I don't know whether you only based it in your wage but my mom said that it's the entire household income that's assessed, not just one persons wage. However she did say that different areas of the Country have different regulations and requirements so it may be that you are entitled.

Just make sure you get all the right information OP so you know where you stand because it seems like you are desperate to have a plan in place quite quickly. I hope you speak to someone soon about whether you and your husband are entitled to financial help and that you get the answers you need

When do you intend to return to work?

What are you confused about time?

My DH that when we were looking at nurseries for twins. Our total was around 2100 but we planned.

with two we could not afford nursery in the end so we used a cheaper childminder who did not ask for lots upfront. We had the headache of paying for two.

As others have said, its totally doable to save CB as baby only 7 weeks and look.at childminders, but you have to plan OP and be responsible as this hits us all and we were on v similar salary.

some practical suggestions here - now its up to you to put them in place, but please don't panic. you will find a reasonable and good childminder.

There will be lots of decisions to make as a parent and none of us have definitive answers but MN always gives great solutions

OP Is that your take home pay (after tax) or pre tax? You need to speak to them because your earnings don't look like they're low enough to qualify for the full payments.

I would also say not to bank on receiving help with childcare other than tax free childcare through work or possibly tax credits. I don't know any working person who gets childcare paid through benefits. You may be one of the many thousands of families that have to decide whether they can actually afford to work.