For many parents, having a grandparent or two on hand to help with school pick-ups, unexpected late nights at work or just a couple of hours’ respite from their kids can be a life-saver – and the chance to save on nursery fees can be very helpful too.
But it is easy for grandparents who love seeing their grandchildren to feel that they are being taken advantage of, and asked to take on far more than is fair. Suddenly retirement is filled with a full-time job, but one that comes without financial recompense.
So, should grandparents who help out with childcare be paid? Grandmother and comedy writer Jan Etherington and parent Rhiannon Picton-James give their perspectives.
There’s no doubt that childcare is pricey – some nurseries even charge extra for nappies, snacks and so on – but what is the alternative for working parents?
The first stop is, frequently, asking the grandparents to step in. But as de facto childminders, shouldn’t they, too, get paid for caring for their grandchildren? It’s true that grandparents can apply for national insurance credit for these duties, but only if they fulfil certain specific criteria.
