Parents on Universal Credit to receive childcare boost

A £300 childcare boost will be introduced to those parents who are on Universal Credit (UC). This support will help working parents with their childcare costs.

The announcement of this childcare boost has come from the Department of Work and Pensions. It will enable parents to claim 85 per cent of their nursery fees when they start employment. For parents with two children, this will mean they can receive up to £13,000 a year towards their childcare costs. Once this is fully rolled out, it will help a huge proportion of families.

Employment Minister Priti Patel said: “We want all families to have the chance to get on in their lives, with the security of a regular pay packet that comes with a job. That’s why we are making sure parents can access good-quality childcare.

“UC is revolutionising welfare with people moving into work faster and earning more. Increasing childcare support will help break down one of the biggest barriers parents on lower incomes can face when moving off benefits.”

The Universal Credit allows parents to claim childcare cost up to a month before they start employment, they can also claim up to a month after their job ends. When returning to work, it can be tough to pay the first months worth of nursery fees especially when you haven’t received your first pay packet. Therefore this childcare boost takes away the added stress and allows parents to fully focus on their job and settling the child into nursery.

Working parents that are claiming Universal Credit can be awarded up to £646 a month towards nursery costs for one child and £1108 for two or more children.

To find out more about Universal Credit visit here