Childcare can be expensive but help is available, such as:
- Free childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds - up to 15 hours per week for eligible 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds
- Childcare Choices - calculate and find new ways to help with childcare costs.
- Universal Credit help - you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.
- Childcare vouchers - offered by some employers to help with childcare costs.
- Work Preparation Support - can help with childcare costs when moving from benefits to a job. There's help for both parents and carers.
Tax Credits
You may be able to claim Tax Credits, depending on your circumstances.
Studying
If you're a parent and studying a course, there are a few different schemes that may be able to help with childcare costs.
- Care to Learn - if you're under 20, a parent and studying a course, this scheme can help pay for your childcare and travel costs.
- Discretionary Learner Support - if you’re aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship.
- Childcare Grant - you may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you are a full-time higher education student and have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs.
- Parent's Learning Allowance - you may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children.