Universal credit childcare – an Early Warning System report

Universal credit childcare – an Early Warning System report October 2021 The Early Warning System was developed by CPAG in Scotland to collect and analyse case evidence about how changes to the benefit system are affecting the wellbeing of children, their families and the communities and services that support them. [...] The case studies help us develop an in-depth understanding of the impact of changes to the benefit system and identify how policies and services in Scotland can continue to contribute to the delivery of better outcomes for children. [...] The Government has confirmed that when someone is moving into work they can request help with upfront costs from the Flexible Support Fund – a discretionary fund operated at a local level.1 Payments from the Flexible Support Fund will be paid direct to the childcare provider and are not repayable. [...] She reported her UC costs for the period up to the 22nd October but because her invoice was incorrectly dated 23rd October, DWP incorrectly said that they would not pay child care costs for the period up to the 22nd October and that they would not pay them in the next assessment period either, leaving the mum out of pocket and struggling to pay for her next childcare bill. [...] Childminders Childminders may be in the position of both being in the position of being a childcare provider and a self-employed UC claimant.