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Help paying for Childcare

There are a number of ways that the goverment can help you and your family with chidcare costs.  Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could get support.  Information about some of the schemes are below:

TAX FREE CHILDCARE

  • for working families in the UK, including self-employed
  • with children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)
  • for every £8 you pay in, the government will add an extre £2, up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 if your child has a disability. 

You can use Tax Free Childcare at the same time as 15 hours funded childcare and 30 hours funded childcare.

You can't use it with Universal Credit, Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers (Childcare voucher schemes are closed to new entrants)

TAX CREDITS

  • for working families in the UK
  • with children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled)
  • claim back up to 70% of childcare costs, up to a cap

You can't claim Tax Credits at the same time as Universal Credit or Tax-Free Childcare

UNIVERSAL CREDIT

  • for working families claiming Universal Credit
  • with children under 16
  • claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs, up to a maximum of £646.35 per month for one child, and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children

The childcare element of Universal Credit can but used alongside the 15 or 30 hours childcare offers.  

You can't claim Universal Credit at the same time as Tax Credits and Tax-Free Childcare

15 HOURS CHILDCARE - 2 YEAR OLDS

  • for families in England receiving some forms of support (eligibility criteria applies)
  • with 2 year old children - can start the term after your child's 2nd birthday
  • 15 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
  • a total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider

15 HOURS CHILDCARE - 3 & 4 YEAR OLDS

  • for all families in England
  • with 3 and 4 year old children
  • 15 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks
  • a total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider

30 HOURS CHILDCARE

  • for working families in England (eligibility criteria applies)
  • with 3 and 4 year old children - NOT for children in Reception
  • 30 hours of childcare or early education for 38 weeks
  • a total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider

Note: for the 15 and 30 hour childcare schemes, some providers will allow you to 'stretch' the hours over more weeks, using fewer hours per week.  Check with the provider of your choice to see what they are able to offer.

For more detailed information about all of these schemes and to check to see if you are eligible or to get an estimate of how much help you can get, please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

 

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