30 hours funding & Carers Allowance

[MinnieTruck]

DD was receiving 30 hours at nursery as I was working part time. Unfortunately, I had to leave my job a couple of months ago so she’ll no longer receive the 30 hours. Once her grace period is over, she’ll receive 15 funded hours instead.

As DD has SEN, it’s important for her routine to not be disrupted so I’ll be paying the nursery so that she can continue to go full time. The SENCO has told me that they have a few single parents who claim Carers Allowance that receive 30 funded hours and has encouraged me to do the same. However, I looked into it and it seems that your child can only get 30 funded hours if one person receives CA and they have a partner that earns over the threshold?

Does anyone know how it actually works? Have I read it wrong or can single parents who receive CA actually receive 30 funded hours for their child? Thank you

Yes, if you're a single parent then you claiming carers is sufficient to get the free hours. If you're in a relationship, the other person has to be in work X hours.

Do you get DLA for her? If so claim the Carers regardless of nursery, it's an extra £80 a week

On Gov’s page it says,
‘If you’re not currently working
You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer’s leave or if you get any of the following:

• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work Benefit
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance’

Nowhere does it say that a single parent receiving any of the following will be eligible. Only if you have a working partner. No point me claiming carers allowance as it gets taken off UC pound for pound so it isn’t any additional money

You need to claim the carer's element of Universal Credit rather than Carer's Allowance.

Nowhere did I say that I don’t already claim that

Any advice about the 30 funded hours and whether single parents can claim this if they receive CA, would be much appreciated😆

Has your DD got an EHCP yet? If so, she can get full nursery funding from 2 years old.