Parents could receive a wave of extra support through government schemes and childcare programmes
Parents facing a summer with the kids at home could see their daily lives stretched – but help may be at hand. Mums and dads nationwide will be juggling to keep their children entertained during the school holidays.
However, finding the time to constantly supervise your kids can be challenging. Luckily, there are several ways you could receive additional financial aid to assist with your child’s care – and now could be the perfect time to get support.
This could include government-funded childcare. It could also cover benefit payments to help cover childcare costs, which could amount to nearly £2,000.
Benefits to support childcare costs
Help could be available if you’re currently working on a low income and don’t meet the criteria for government-funded childcare or it doesn’t cover your full childcare bill. You may be able to claim extra through Universal Credit.
You can also claim up to 85 per cent of your childcare cost through Universal Credit. However, you must get your childcare approved through a registered provider.
This money can be claimed back regardless of how many hours you work with a maximum of £1,014 for one child and £1,739 for two or more children. In order to make the claim, you will need to provide evidence of your costs, such as a letter from your childcare provider.
Claims can also be made for up to three months in advance. Yet the actual payment may only be made after childcare is provided unless you’re entering work or are increasing your hours.
Government-funded childcare for three or four year olds
More support could be on offer here. And many parents might not even know the help is available.
In England, parents with a three or four-year-old child are entitled to 570 hours of government-funded childcare annually. Typically, this equates to 15 hours a week over 38 weeks.
While it’s possible to spread these hours over more weeks with fewer hours each week, some local councils may require your child to attend at least 2-and-a-half hours each week. To claim government-funded childcare, you can inquire with your local nursery or childcare provider about availability and express your interest in signing up.
Furthermore, parents of three and four year olds can access an additional 15 hours of funded childcare per week (totalling 30 hours per week) if they meet the eligibility criteria. To qualify for the extra 15 hours, you must:
- Be employed.
- Earn a wage equivalent to 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage.
- Earn less than £100,000 annually.
From September 2024, the additional 15 hours will also be extended to two-year-old children.
