Would you sign this petition regarding redundancy and 30 free hours

[namechange3959682]

Never started a petition in my life and not sure if I have a strong enough argument or not. So I though Mumsnet would definitely give me some honest answers .
Basically you are entitled to 30 free hours of childcare for children aged 3-4 if you are working a certain amount of hours/earning enough. So for those that have been made redundant you lose these hours/aren't able to claim for the following term. I get it you are not working so technically don't need the childcare.

However my argument is for those made redundant most will be desperate to find a new job especially at the minute with Covid. As you have to apply in advance for each term it could mean when you do hopefully get a job it could be too late to apply and hence you end up having to pay for childcare which would normally be funded.

My petition is basically still allow the 30 free hours for those made redundant in the last 6 months or those on job seekers.

Afew further arguments is it will give parents more time when they are out of work to apply for jobs/attend interviews.
Also it might help nursery's who may be stuggling as the more people out of work the less child they will have attending and hence less funding.

Bump

As you have to apply in advance for each term it could mean when you do hopefully get a job it could be too late to apply and hence you end up having to pay for childcare which would normally be funded.

Surely what they need to do is sort out the application process to prevent this happening, and/or allow retrospective claims. Offering the hours to people who are at home anyway means they'd be spending (or wasting) money to avoid sorting out their inefficiency, and offering the hours for six months wouldn't necessarily solve the problem as there'd be no guarantee of finding a job within six months - you'd just be in the same position if it took you 7 or more months to get a job.

You would be better advised to petition for faster and/or retrospective claims.

Thank you @Pelleas that is a really good point and much stronger argument. As obviously if you didn't find a job it would be a waste.

Hi OP

We're just moving your thread over to the correct topic.

Thank you @LilyMumsnet I probably would have had more replies if I put it in the correct topic in the first place

I understand hour reasoning but it still leaves room for people to take advantage (e.g. a SAHM could then just put her child into childcare for 30 hours).

I think it should be more about having a grace period (e.g. you lose the 30 free hours if you are out of work for more than 3 months as opposed to losing it immediately).