Find out how to access support with childcare costs including Tax Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare.
You may be able to reduce your childcare costs through government support schemes.
Tax Free Childcare gives eligible families a 20% top-up on childcare costs up to £2000 a year.
Universal Credit Childcare enables families to claim back up to 85% for childcare costs.
Tax Free and Universal Credit Childcare can be used alongside government funded childcare if you meet the eligibility criteria.
You cannot use Tax Free childcare and Universal Credit Childcare together.
Find out more at Best Start in Life on gov.uk.
In the government scheme called Tax Free Childcare, working families can get up to £500 every three months (£2000 a year) for each of your children, to help with the costs of childcare. For more information, visit Tax Free Childcare on gov.uk.
For further information about using Tax Free Childcare, visit how Tax Free Childcare works on gov.uk.
Universal Credit can help with the costs of childcare. You may be able to claim up to 85% of your registered childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, in paid work or due to start a job in the next month.
You can use a benefits calculator on gov.uk to check what benefits you could get. Visit the universal credit page on gov.uk for an overview of this benefit. Guidance on universal credit is also available from the Money Advice Service on Money Helper.
For further information about using Universal Credit Childcare, visit how Universal Credit Childcare works on gov.uk.
Child Tax Credit is a benefit to help with the cost of raising a child. You may be able to receive it if you are over 16 and responsible for a child who is either:
You can't claim child tax credit if you are claiming Universal Credit.
You don't need to be working to claim child tax credit. Visit Child Tax Credit on gov.uk for an overview of this benefit. Guidance is also available on the Child Tax Credit page on the Money Helper website.
The care to learn scheme can help with childcare costs while you study.
You must be aged under 20 at the start of your course.
The scheme is available for publicly funded courses in England. This includes courses in:
Visit Care to Learn on gov.uk for an overview of this benefit. Guidance is also available on the grants and benefits if you’re studying and have a baby page on the Money Helper website.
Disability Living Allowance for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who is:
Visit Disability Living Allowance on gov.uk for more information about eligibility and how to apply.