Leaving work due to childcare issues

[Maybepossibly22]

Hello all, just a bit advice if anyone has any. Not sure if I’m posting in the right place (MN team, please move if this is wrong).

I've been fortunate enough to have my parents support for childcare for dd who is 2 so that I’ve been able to work.

My darling dad has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and obviously will no longer be able to look after DD. In amongst our anticipatory grief, I’m wondering about what our options are regarding childcare - it will cost more than I earn to put DD into full time childcare.
Would I be able to leave work and receive UC without sanction until DD is eligible for her 3 year funding? I need to be around to look after DD and support dm with my df.
Im trying to distract myself from my heartbreak with sorting out logistics going forward.
thank you

Any chance of a sabbatical until she's 3 so you have a job to go back to? Although don't know how this would affect UC.

I'm sorry your DF is so ill.

My advice would be to do whatever you can to stay in work. Even if that means taking a loan out like suggested above. The economy isn't going anywhere good and having a job makes finding another much easier then finding one when you've been unemployed for any amount of time. You also have pension payments presumably accruing for that work too.

From a practical point of view too - sorry to say this and I hope it isn't too upsetting, but possibly you're not thinking of it yet - but there may come a time when you need time off work due to your father's health. If your DC is in childcare it means you can take that time with DF, or, very sadly, to grieve in the worst stages, without having DC to care for at the same time. Gives you some breathing space when you may most need it.