Benefits advice; help with childcare costs

c4thyg

Hi everyone,

I've hit a wall with the benefits system and wondered if anyone else had any experience with this. I've found a voluntary position in medical research (to allow me to retrain) but I need help paying for childcare for me to do this. I'm a lone parent in receipt of DLA. I've just been told that I can't get any help for childcare unless I'm on payrole. I've been advised (by CAB and Shaw Trust) that retraining also qualifies but I can't seem to speak to anyone who agrees.

Does anyone know where I can look to get help with childcare? This is the only way back into work for me that I have been able to find and I really don't want to lose the opportunity. Thx.

woodbon

Hi, what a horrible position to be in. I'm sorry I don't know the answer to the question and benefits seem to make it up as they go along!!! :roll: What about you MP? After all the Government are so keen to get everyone back at work and make big fuss about anyone who can breath get a job. Working voluntory is supposed to be good, I thought, keep on asking and contact your MP! I'd phone and ask for a manager, if I were you. :shock:

Good luck and I hope it works out for you. Love Sue

dreamdaisy

I have no idea - what about contacting your local CAB? They know all sorts of stuff. I wish you well, this sounds like a great opportunity for you. How old is the offspring? DD

sharmaine

Hi

Can you get back to the CAB or Shaw Trust and ask them for a contact number? What about phoning Social Services they may have some advice for you ...or maybe direct gov online? I hope someone comes up with some good advice for you.

Good luck with your retraining and childcare.

Sharmaine

c4thyg wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've hit a wall with the benefits system and wondered if anyone else had any experience with this. I've found a voluntary position in medical research (to allow me to retrain) but I need help paying for childcare for me to do this. I'm a lone parent in receipt of DLA. I've just been told that I can't get any help for childcare unless I'm on payrole. I've been advised (by CAB and Shaw Trust) that retraining also qualifies but I can't seem to speak to anyone who agrees.

Does anyone know where I can look to get help with childcare? This is the only way back into work for me that I have been able to find and I really don't want to lose the opportunity. Thx.

c4thyg

woodbon wrote:

Hi, what a horrible position to be in. I'm sorry I don't know the answer to the question and benefits seem to make it up as they go along!!! :roll: What about you MP? After all the Government are so keen to get everyone back at work and make big fuss about anyone who can breath get a job. Working voluntory is supposed to be good, I thought, keep on asking and contact your MP! I'd phone and ask for a manager, if I were you. :shock:

Good luck and I hope it works out for you. Love Sue

Thx Sue, that's a great idea. It never would have occurred to me either. If I still have no joy next week I'll look up my local MP.
Thx again.

c4thyg

sharmaine wrote:

Hi

Can you get back to the CAB or Shaw Trust and ask them for a contact number? What about phoning Social Services they may have some advice for you ...or maybe direct gov online? I hope someone comes up with some good advice for you.

Good luck with your retraining and childcare.

Sharmaine

I have been to both CAB and Shaw trust. I rung the contact number today and they're trying to sort out my records. It seems that neither lone parent advisors or disability advisors want to know because I fall under both. So in short, I've been dropped by both. I'm pushing for it today and will be charging them my phone calls soon.

I was referred to social services back in March and again in May but still haven't been contacted. It does feel as thou I'm very much on my own with all this. It makes me wonder where all my professional taxes that I paid for a long time have gone.

I'm still going to do the volunteer work as I should be able to get a full time job at the end of it and not need benefits then. I'm just going to have to use my already overstretched savings to be able to pay for the privilege of working for nothing, at least until it runs out.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I have a couple of places now that I can go to for advice.

c4thyg

If I can't get help from somewhere, it'll mean £300 per month out of pocket!!! Just to get back to work. :shock:

c4thyg

Ok, so I now have an appointment to see the lone parent advisor who was brave enough to look into my case. Lets hope something useful comes of it.

dreamdaisy

I hope so. Good luck. DD

pols090607

Did you ring tax credits ? I am of the understanding that they only pay towards childcare if you're working 16+ hrs paid work per week.

I'm in the same boat, costs me £289 pcm in childcare Some days feel like packing it all in and staying at home, life would certainly be a lot easier !

Keep us posted x

c4thyg

pols090607 wrote:

Did you ring tax credits ? I am of the understanding that they only pay towards childcare if you're working 16+ hrs paid work per week.

I'm in the same boat, costs me £289 pcm in childcare Some days feel like packing it all in and staying at home, life would certainly be a lot easier !

Keep us posted x

That's what I was told as well but I've been advised to make a case for on the job training which might be covered depending on interpretation. This really is the only way that I can get back into my old career and be better off not on benefits. I can't believe that this all hinges on a complete stranger's interpretation.

I'm being seen on the 4th Oct so I'll post back once I know the decision but I'm not holding my breath.

frogmorton

Good luck Vathy

seems ludicrous to me :roll:

you WANT to work! :roll:

Oct 4th is not too far off.

Love

Toni xx

woodbine

Hi,

Have you thought of contacting your local council's Family Information Service? Each council has one (by law) though they may not all be called exaclty that. It should be on the council's website or phone book entry. They specialise in info on childcare related subjects and should have comprehensive info on help with childcare costs in your area. (I work at our local one, but our info is only applicable in Wales.)

Hope that helps,
Naomi

c4thyg

woodbine wrote:

Hi,

Have you thought of contacting your local council's Family Information Service? Each council has one (by law) though they may not all be called exaclty that. It should be on the council's website or phone book entry. They specialise in info on childcare related subjects and should have comprehensive info on help with childcare costs in your area. (I work at our local one, but our info is only applicable in Wales.)

Hope that helps,
Naomi

Hi Naomi,

I have spoken to FIS and all they hold in my area is info on where I can find childcare. There's nothing about funding etc. In short, if you don't work why would anyone really need childcare seems to be the attitude around here. I live in a deprived area where most fathers don't work let alone the mothers!! :shock:

woodbine

c4thyg wrote:

woodbine wrote:

Hi,

Have you thought of contacting your local council's Family Information Service? Each council has one (by law) though they may not all be called exaclty that. It should be on the council's website or phone book entry. They specialise in info on childcare related subjects and should have comprehensive info on help with childcare costs in your area. (I work at our local one, but our info is only applicable in Wales.)

Hope that helps,
Naomi

Hi Naomi,

I have spoken to FIS and all they hold in my area is info on where I can find childcare. There's nothing about funding etc. In short, if you don't work why would anyone really need childcare seems to be the attitude around here. I live in a deprived area where most fathers don't work let alone the mothers!! :shock:

Hi,

Sorry to hear that your local FIS has so little info - it might be worth your while checking with a neighbouring one as all FIS's are meant to have this info, but there are a small number that don't - of which your nearest one seems, unfortunately to be one,

Naomi

barbara12

Hi
Just want to say, I really hope you get the help you need, let us know how you get on.
Love
Barbara xx

tkachev

Hi Cathy

I am in a sort of similar position in that I cant get any qualified full time child care for my autistic son.There are some holiday playschemes but they are not guaranteed. It is lack of facilities which is my problem and the care needed is much more expensive. I have the same problems getting baby sitters- twice the usual rate and fewer carers trained in autism.

Elizabeth

c4thyg

I've just been to the job centre and seen an advisor. She was very good and as I don't fall into any particular category she is going to make a business case for me to get Meg's childcare paid for. It's not guaranteed but at least she didn't simply say no, which is what all the telephone advisors have done.

So I now have to write a statement including various bits of info so that she can write everything up for me. I'll get a statement from my boss this week as well in support of my application.

I know I still don't have an answer but at least now I have hope.

frogmorton

Hi cathy

yes you do and you also have ambition

Well done and I hope all goes really well for you

Love

Toni xx