Assistance Available
Universal Credit
If you’re eligible for or already claiming Universal Credit, and you’re in work, you can claim back up to 85% of the amount you spend on childcare (max £646/month for one or £1,108/month for two or more children up to the age of 16). You should contact Universal Credit direct to arrange this.
Tax Credits
Whilst you can no longer make a new claim for tax credits, if you’re already claiming the benefit, you can get help with up to 70% of your childcare costs. Contact HMRC direct to arrange this.
IMPORTANT
If you get help with childcare costs through either of the above schemes, you WON’T also be able to use Tax-Free Childcare as well. Opening a Tax-Free Childcare account will mean you stop getting paid the above benefits (all of it, not just the childcare part).
Tax-Free Childcare
ax-Free Childcare is for working families (including self-employed) with children aged between 0-11 who earn under £100k and at least £139/week each and are not receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.
For every £8 you pay into the scheme, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year.
Employer Childcare Voucher Schemes
- your wages were adjusted on or before 4 October 2018
- you stay with the same employer and they continue to run the scheme
- you do not take an unpaid career break of longer than a year
