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LCWRA and childcare costs

janesh

Hi all,
I have been on LCW for 18 months but my condition has gotten considerably worse recently and I've now been moved onto LCWRA.

My partner works full time 40hrs/week

Our youngest child is in childcare with an Ofsted register childminder.
we were getting help with the costs previously (whilst on LCW) but this is my first months payment for LCWRA and I've noticed that there is no help with childcare costs! We paid around £200 to our childcare provider, which I submitted to UC as per usual, but there is nothing for it.

Is this correct? Do we not get help with childcare anymore?
I desperately need the childcare to help me when times are bad with my health so feel very worried and concerned about this.

Thank you in advance,
Jane

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Comments

poppy123456

Hi,

Was your partner paid more than usual during the last assessment period, or did they receive two wages during this time? If so then this can affect the amount of UC you're paid. The more you earn the less childcare you can claim, not counting yourself of course.

janesh

Thanks for the reply. No he didn't, he was paid the same as usual

kaza814

Depending the date you made the payment they may be expecting you to wait until next month. I'm now in extreme financial difficulty due to universal credits. My son was in nursery and was removed with immediate effect for his own welfare so nursery now won't provide proof of receiving payment but I was able to provide the police reference number ect.
Has to then pay a month upfront for childminder and got £43 'due to their dates' even though it's for the full month. Since then I have also had to pay October childcare fees and won't get the rest of sept fees until 18th Oct. So I'm 3 months childcare fees out £670 a month and £43 from universal credit with comments like '''thats just the way it is" from work coaches

janesh

Kara814
that's rubbish, I think that's the problem with them not giving any Consideration into these kind of circumstances. Hope you get it sorted soon. It's just so hard to fork out money when you don't have it!

So are you on LWCRA and get help towards your childcare then?

Jane

poppy123456

janesh said:

So are you on LWCRA and get help towards your childcare then?

Jane

Yes this can be claimed under these circumstances...

You must be in paid work to receive childcare support from Universal Credit.

If you are a claiming with a partner both of you normally need to be in work to receive this help. However, you may be able to get childcare support if one of you is not working and is unable to provide childcare themselves because they:

have limited capability for work
have caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person
are temporarily absent from the household

https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/children-and-childcare/

janesh

Thank you Poppy, that's fab. Although do you think LCW includes LCWRA?
I Can't seem to find anything online to confirm it and I'm so worried

poppy123456

Yes LCW is Limited capability for work and LCWRA is limited capability for work related activity. They both mean you have a limited capability for work.

janesh

Oh thank goodness! Ah that's such a relief.
It must just be a mistake then and I'm assuming they will backdate it. I need the help with childcare now more than ever and was hoping to up it to more.
Thank you so much for helping me to understand this.
ive written a note to the UC people asking but they still haven't replied after a few days!
Thanks again

poppy123456

having looked at the childcare criteria again for UC i am not not 100% sure if LCWRA will qualify you for childcare. I know LCW does but it's not clear to mean if LCWRA does. There's a slight difference between them both in terms of what they mean. Therefore i would advise you to get expert advice regarding this if you have problems when you contact UC because you may no longer qualify because you now have LCWRA. I'm sorry i can't be more definite than this but i really can't find a specific answer to your question.

janesh

Same here, I just keep finding such mixed answers I'm ending up in circles! I have everything crossed that UC will get back to me soon with a definite answer. I'll update here when they do

poppy123456

Be aware that DWP are not always spot on with their advice, especially when it comes to UC. Good luck.

janesh

I don't think anyone seems to understand UC, even the people that work there!
Still no word from them, but I just spoke to someone on the Entitled To chat and they didn't know either!

janesh

Just found this...

3. If you have a partner

If you are part of a couple you must both be in paid work, or have accepted an offer of paid work. Childcare costs may be paid if 1 partner is working and the other can’t look after the child or children because they:

have limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work related activity
care for a severely disabled adult or severely disabled child
are temporarily absent from the household (for example, in hospital, residential care or in custody)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-childcare/universal-credit-childcare-guide#qualifying-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs

poppy123456

This was my first thoughts yes but then when i looked further i started to doubt myself and really didn't want to give you the wrong advice. I tried looking on the internet but everywhere i search said the same thing. Seems like my first thoughts were correct. Hopefully, it's true and you'll hear back from DWP soon. Good luck.

mcc0131

janesh said:

Just found this...

3. If you have a partner
If you are part of a couple you must both be in paid work, or have accepted an offer of paid work. Childcare costs may be paid if 1 partner is working and the other can’t look after the child or children because they:
have limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work related activity
care for a severely disabled adult or severely disabled child
are temporarily absent from the household (for example, in hospital, residential care or in custody)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-childcare/universal-credit-childcare-guide#qualifying-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs

Hi folks. Just wondering is there any update on this to fully confirm on whether you get child care costs with LCWRA.

Similar situation thanks

chiarieds

Hi @mcc0131 - I've had a look on the internet too & this July 2020 guidance on the Gov.UK's site is the latest I can find, i.e. the link above. It does seem to suggest that childcare costs apply with LCWRA. However I'll ask @Adrian_Scope for his opinion. Please would you advise here Adrian, thank you.

janesh

Hi all,
Original poster here!
Yes I can confirm that I get LCWRA and because of that we get up to 85% of our childcare costs because of this. My husband earns £1400 a month so we end up getting the full 85% help. We got this when my daughter was 2 years old and now that she’s 3/4 we still get it until she starts school. I just need to provide receipts to Universal Credit. Hope this helps

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for the tag @chiarieds, I've been on annual leave so my apologies for only replying now and many thanks @janesh for popping back to update us on your situation.

If you're on a joint claim and have a partner that works and you receive LCWRA then you can claim back childcare costs (same as if one of you is a carer receiving the carer element and the other works). However, if you're on a single claim and don't work, even if you have LCWRA or receive the carer element, unfortunately you can't claim back childcare support.

Johan158

chiarieds said:

Hi @mcc0131 - I've had a look on the internet too & this July 2020 guidance on the Gov.UK's site is the latest I can find, i.e. the link above. It does seem to suggest that childcare costs apply with LCWRA. However I'll ask @Adrian_Scope for his opinion. Please would you advise here Adrian, thank you.

Hi, I have LCWRA and I take Carrier Allowance for my wife. I am entitled to extra money because I am also a LCWRA. Well thank you.

poppy123456

Johan158 said:

chiarieds said:

Hi @mcc0131 - I've had a look on the internet too & this July 2020 guidance on the Gov.UK's site is the latest I can find, i.e. the link above. It does seem to suggest that childcare costs apply with LCWRA. However I'll ask @Adrian_Scope for his opinion. Please would you advise here Adrian, thank you.

Hi, I have LCWRA and I take Carrier Allowance for my wife. I am entitled to extra money because I am also a LCWRA. Well thank you.

You can't claim both the carers element and LCWRA element at the same time, you will be entitled to the higher element, which is the LCWRA.