Universal credit and preschool

Just wondered if anyone has any experience being in UC and not sending their child to nursery/preschool? For context I've been told I'll have to start looking for work once my son turns 3 however I have no childcare options and can not afford childminder or nursery, compulsory school age isn't till 5 years old (although I plan to have his name down for the funded preschool from term after he turns 3) but can you be forced in to jobseeking if your child doesn't have to be in school and you decide to home educate or whatever until the compulsory schooling age? My son will turn 3 in January and not be accepted for his funded place until September so I have nothing to cover most of that year and I'm starting to panic

Show your support

You can’t really be ‘forced’ but I think they can lower the benefits you receive as you’ll be placed in the category of ‘able to work but not’. U If you’re working & receive UC they do pay 85% of your childcare costs ? So the actual amount of nursery fees you’d pay is pretty low x

Yeah I understand that but that's still 15% to cover from nothing and you have to pay and claim back so you have to have it to start with. They do do an upfront cost thing but you'd still need that 15% and would need the job and a spot to be available at the same starting point which is gona be tricky

They are horrible on my backside about returning to work never mind how my health is I feel like I’m getting forced and I will return but once I’m better with help I wish they wouldn’t pressurise. I know they are giving us the benefit but wish they would be more understanding. I got told the same about my child turning 3 and that I need to return to work as that happens

You can homeschool but you'll still have the same work commitments. With the funded hours available and UC paying 85% on top of that, they'll see that you have no reason to not work.

Thanks for the replies. I'm honestly not against returning to work, I'm 33 now and this is my first time being unemployed since turning 13 so it will be a return to normality for me but I'm just finding it really difficult to get everything to come together to make it work. I have another work coach meeting next week so will discuss further with them but wanted an idea of how things work beforehand

…………… so you want something for nothing? And also are against the 15% you’d be paying…

No need to be rude and judgey... I never said I want anything, I said I'm trying to figure it out and make it work and want to know the facts of the situation but financially I'm struggling. If you want to get on your high horse about a single mother trying to do her best for her son and herself with no support then please do it elsewhere

Do best for your son by working and earning then. UC is a trap. Coming out of it at the other end is really hard

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