MASSIVE WIN FOR MUMS ON A MISSION

Nichola Salvato, Universal Credit Advice Columnist at The Sun, Welfare Rights Advisor and one of our PHENOMENAL Mums On A Mission who took on the DWP in a David & Goliath style legal battle and judicial review on Childcare costs under Universal Credit has WON!

As reported in The Guardian, Mr Justice Chamberlain said, “the childcare payment system, which estimates suggest will be used eventually by 500,000 UK parents when universal credit is fully rolled out, was irrational and subjected Salvato and other mothers to indirect sex discrimination under human rights law”, and found that the universal credit childcare system was ‘discriminatory and unlawful’.

Nichola said of today’s verdict, “I’m so very pleased that the judge has ruled that the way that childcare costs are administered through universal credit at the moment is unlawful, and I really hope that the DWP recognise that a speedy change to the system is going to have an enormous and very welcome impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of lower-income families across the country, the very group of people that the government says it wants to help.”

Represented by law firm Leigh Day and supported by the charities Save the Children UK and Gingerbread, as well as the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years and the National Day Nurseries Association, this is HUGE day for so many.

Becca Lyon, Head of child poverty campaigns at Save the Children said, “For years we have been hearing from parents that the system is unfair is forcing them to run up debts, face financial hardship, or even drop out of work altogether because they can’t afford to pay childcare or nursery fees in advance.”

Today’s judgement has MASSIVE implications for working parent families everywhere. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has now logged an appeal, and that is why more than ever we NEED your continued support.

Please SIGN, SHARE and continue supporting our MISSION to ‘Make Childcare Work’.