Government funded childcare + redundancy/applying for JSA

Hi! I have a 2-fold question, as it's all sort of related and complicated so it's hard to find answers for my specific circumstances online. For context, I gave birth in Feb 2024, so baby is 6m old, but I also got made redundant 1 month before I gave birth (it's fine, company bankrupted 2 months After so it was inevitable). So I'm receiving my SMP which I was entitled to but I am unemployed.

15-30h government funded childcare - as far as I understand I am currently not entitled to any because I don't work? Or when/what hours would I be entitled to? I am planning to find a job around the time baby is 1 year old, but does that mean I can't apply for any childcare till once ive started work? I keep hearing about deadlines depending on baby's age and I'm so unclear. At the same time I know because of this funding nurseries are getting filled up quickly and people are registering while still pregnant and yet how do I register anywhere when I'm so uncertain about what hours/days ill be working/when ill start work and how much child care we'd be able to afford?!..

On a separate note, can I apply for job seeker's allowance given that I am indeed unemployed currently, although receiving SMP? I just don't know how long it would take me to find a job and this little help will certainly make a difference especially once the maternity payments stop which is soon.

Many thanks in advance for all advice 🙏

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Job seekers allowance isn't a thing anymore. You wanna apply for universal credit, and they won't even expect you to start looking for a job until your baby is 3 years old. They also pay up to 85% of childcare fees if you are working too which you can use in conjunction with the 15 hours.

@Jasmine thanks for your reply! I didn't think I would be entitled to UC as we don't rent but have a mortgage instead, and also didn't think I can apply while I'm getting SMP as that counts as income? Would you suggest I apply after the SMP's stop? 🤔

You get various entitlements from UC, housing is just one of them. SMP does count as income, but I still got UC while on SMP and I still get it now that I'm working, but I'm a single mum. If you live with your partner and he is working you're less likely to be entitled to anything I'm afraid, but you could do an online calculator to see if you can get anything :)

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

@Jasmine yeah that's the other problem, I do live with him and he's not on a low income (not high either but I guess they'd consider it sufficient when it really isn't to be the sole income and cover everything these days 😫). Thanks for all your help anyway, I'll look into it!

Incog
You an get UC while on SMP but like you said if his on a 'decent' income then you wouldn't be allowed UC
I would apply anyway if I were you the worse they can say is no
But if they can offer you money (even if its £1 per month) thrn you can apply for council tax reduction , healthy start and other benefits etc

@Emma yeah that's a good point I suppose there's no harm in trying. At the very least maybe ill apply when SMP stops in 2 or so months as then I won't have that "income" so hopefully will be more likely to get accepted. Thanks!

in our community

If yall still giving your kids processed food, pls seek help

I understand not everybody can afford healthy ingredients all the time, but I’m seeing so many moms on social media giving they kids artificial cereals, coffee, frozen pancakes, velveetta Mac and cheese, hot Cheetos, kraft, the list goes on. I’m sorry but are yall not capable of cooking from scratch or ?? On top of that, if you still using canola and vegetable oil in 2026 you gotta stop. Am I the only one that notices this ???

Sahm .. the dad role .

Hi!! I’m 2 months pp. and I really would like your opinion on this situation if you have a moment.
So I have always had a job before the baby, and my bd .. not really. But 2 weeks before he was born he scored a really good job and I was able to be a sahm. Which is what I wanted , and I’m unsure if it’s still what I want or if the situation just isn’t right.
At first he was a great help in the hospital as I had an emergency c section. I was in the hospital for about a week and for most of that time I was in bed .
But after that.. I’m lucky if he will watch the baby while I shower .and I mean that seriously.
I am the only one who changes diapers, only one who bathes , feeds or watched him in general. And of course he may be tired after work but it’s like he completely avoids any responsibility. Like he will take a hour coming home and stop by his friends house otw . He will sit down stairs for hours knowing I won’t go down there bc I’m uncomfy . So I have the baby then.
We have been out maybe 2-3 times sense I had him & he refused to push the stroller c change or anything. In fact we got to the mall and said he needed to split up and I had the baby.
I feel he only wants the baby when it’s for … attention? Like to post the baby on social media or if his family is here he will take him .

I just feel like on days he doesn’t have work the next morning he should be helping , and if he is up early before work while I’m still sleeping he should get the baby instead of scrolling on reels for 3 hours .

Honestly he has really ruined my new born phase with my son. Within the first week of us being home I had to full on switch to survival mode I would call it. He would complain if dinner wasn’t done or if the room was a mess , he would complain if the diaper caddy had no diapers which really makes no sense bc he didn’t even changed the diapers . It was just everything.
I’m just wondering if there is anything I could say to get some type of help out of him.
I tried reaching out to his mother but honestly his hole family is oblivious to his behaviour.

Nursery ideas

Guys I need help! This is going to be my daughter’s nursery and I want to make it cute. Help me find an aesthetic look or a good layout to place some furniture/cribs etc!!

Should I respect his wishes??

I’ve been a SAHM for 4 years now and my husband does a great job providing for our family and we never need for anything. With that i still had to sacrifice some wants like shopping when I want getting my hair and nails done regularly so when I can I try to supplement for my wants and savings by selling my craft items at vendor markets and recently I’ve started donating plasma. Which has been consistent income for me. $125 twice a week. Well my husband has expressed that he doesn’t like me donating plasma. He feels like it’s not worth it to put my body through those conditions for $125. He even went out to sell one of his guns today and gave me all the money and told me “I shouldn’t have to donate plasma no more”. That was so sweet but I disagree. I planned on continuing to donate plasma to save for my kids birthdays thats coming up, a trip we have planned and our anniversary. I don’t know what to do. I finally found something that pays something consistently and my husband is against it. What should I do?

Blw

Hi I am running out off ideas on what to make for Lil 14 month old for breakfast lunch and dinner if anyone have any resipes would be great to try my boy with them

AITA?

This isn't a major issue, just wondering if I'm being a bit of an asshole.

• I do shift work, 5 out of 7 days, full-time.
• My partner works from home (mostly, sometimes he goes into the office) M-F, full-time.

Anyway, whenever I have a day off during the week he gets in his feelings when I make myself food (breakfast and lunch) but not him. His reason is he's working, I'm not - Which is fair but I've asked him how many times on a weekend has he gotten up, on his day off and made me breakfast and a lunch to take with me to work? You guessed it, 0.

So basically, just because I'm at home I don't think the responsibility to feed him should automatically fall on me when he manages to feed himself just fine while I'm at work.