What are you entitled to in terms of childcare support in Scotland?
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@Veronica she’s only 8 months so struggling to find what help I can get 😩
@Lucy oh I see unfortunately there isn't much beside that :(
Unless you are on benefits there's only tax-free childcare and the monthly payments you receiv for each child (can't remember the name of that, I can look up of you want but you should already have it)
Our HV told us that if you're entitled to any benefits that come under UC you can claim back childcare cost up to some percentage of the monthly cost, we're not entitled to anything so it's only tax free. Its worth checking on entitledto though. Childcare cost is brutal 🤦
Look into tax free childcare where you pay a certain amount and the government tops it up. I can’t remember the eligibility criteria and it’s not much but it can help. Unfortunately the 15hrs free in England isn’t here yet. It’s not working down south as there aren’t enough places/staff/nurseries. The childcare system in the UK is awful I’m afraid :(
Yup just the tax free childcare up to £2000 but it's means tested. I checked how much we will get recently and it said around 800 per year... our nursery fees will be over 650 when I go back to work. An expensive two years until the babies are 3 years old ahead I'm afraid x
Only tax free childcare which is a 20% top up but that’s capped at £500 every 3 months (up to £2000 per year) and can only be spent on childcare fees, and child benefit which is £26.50 week (for eldest or only child) 🙃
If you are entitled to universal credit you can get up to 85% back of your monthly childcare costs
@Anna not entitled to anything either😭. It’s brutal!!🥴
@Lucy it's really the matter of sucking it up and paying until they're entitled for free nursery or not going back to work until then. We've managed to change our work schedules so wee one only will go for 3 days a week but it's still almost £1k a month after deducting tax 🤦😭
Are either you or your partner self employed? I paid a friend to look after my wee man and put her through the business as a receptionist and just made sure I included child care duties in my other receptionists contracts.
@Anna yup, I was paying about £1K/month for about 25 hrs a week too
In Scotland as far as I know you get free 1140h yearly to send your baby at the nursery from 3yo (some are eligible from 2yo I guess who is on benefits). https://www.mygov.scot/childcare-costs-help/funded-early-learning-and-childcare