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Parenting

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Original poster

Childcare cost with universal credit

9 replies

Sabina93 · 02/09/2023 08:56

Hi, I just wanted to ask. I know that if I’m on the universal credit and I also work I can get up to 85% of childcare cost back however the job I found you only work just 3h/week it’s part-time/permanent job, but you can always work different days so one week it might be Tuesday and other week Friday. Do you know how does it work then? I have nearly 3 years old and 5 months old. I want 3 years old to go there full time and 5 months old only twice a week for afternoon session while I’m at work. Does the universal credit still pay something for childcare cost even if I go only for 3h a week? I am considering this job because I don’t want to leave my 5 months old in nursery yet for too long since he’s still too little but really would like to go back to work.
Can anyone advice please? I’d really appreciate it. Thank you very much.

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Original poster

Sabina93 · 03/09/2023 07:59

Bump. Anyone?

OP posts:

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 03/09/2023 08:10

I don't know for sure, but I'd be very surprised if you could claim costs of full time nursery if you were only working 3 hours a week. I think that only reasonable costs are paid. So maybe pay the day you work. You have to pay the costs yourself and then claim it back.

Ask your work coach if you have one, a quick google suggests they have to fill out the form with you and decides what's reasonable to claim.

Callmemummynotmaaa · 03/09/2023 08:12

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs

I always thought it was 16 hours minimum but having read this it says there is no min. And at 3 your older child would be entitled to 15-30 hours anyway!
So it’s the baby you need childcare for to work?

However, I think you could find it very difficult to take a setting to accommodate ad-hoc hours. Especially for a child under one. Most make you chose set days (because they have ratios of safe staffing to levels of children so have to be able to plan in advance). UC will only pay register providers.

Universal Credit childcare costs

If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs

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Original poster

Sabina93 · 03/09/2023 09:11

Thank you very much for your help.

OP posts:

purplebluediscorain · 03/09/2023 09:15

No it still applies I worked 7.5 hours a week and got 85% of my childcare back still and she went for 16 hours which i increased before my hours increased and now I am working full time.

however as above has said I don’t know if you’ll find a nursery willing to do just one 3 hour session.

KateyCuckoo · 03/09/2023 09:19

The 3 year old will get 15 hours from the term after they turn 3, they will get 30 hours when you start to work 16 hours/week or more.

Danikm151 · 03/09/2023 10:19

It’s reasonable amounts they pay so if you work 3 hours you’d expect 6-7 hours to be paid for( factoring in commute time)

Original poster

Sabina93 · 07/09/2023 19:47

Okay thank you very much all for your help

OP posts:

Katlo1 · 26/03/2024 07:35

Hi, I’ve claimed childcare costs with universal credit for the last two years and I’ve always uploaded my costs online as normal. Recently they asked me to attend a further evidence interview to take in my bank statement etc to verify authenticity of my costs. Have they done this to anyone else and why?

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