Am I eligible?
You must be claiming Universal Credit. You must also be in paid work and if you have a partner they must also be in paid work. If your partner does not work but cannot look after your children, you can still claim Universal Credit childcare costs costs if your partner:
- Has a health condition or disability which means they have Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA)
- Cares for a severely disabled person (and is eligible for Carer's Allowance)
- Has to be away from home temporarily, for example in hospital.
Is my child the right age?
You can claim UC Childcare costs for all children that you have responsibility for until the 31 August after their 16th birthday.
Do I need to be working a set number of hours to be eligible for UC Childcare costs?
No. To be eligible, you just need to be in paid work. As long as your childcare needs relate to your working hours you can be reimbursed for up to 85% of your childcare costs.
What kind of childcare can I use it for?
Your childcare must be registered. This generally means registered with Ofsted in England or the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and Wales. You can choose the provider who best suits your needs. The types of childcare providers include:
- Breakfast/after school clubs
- Holiday play schemes/camps (if school approved and arranged)
- Home care workers (need to be Ofsted registered)
- Nannies registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.
How to claim for your childcare costs
You usually report your childcare costs in your online Universal Credit account. You can do this when you first make a claim, or at any point in your claim.
You need to:
- provide proof of which childcare provider you use
- tell Universal Credit the dates of childcare you paid for, how much you paid and the date you made the payment
- provide proof of payment
Report your childcare costs as soon as possible after paying them. If you leave it for longer than 2 assessment periods, you might not get the money back.
How much can I claim?
UC can reimburse up to 85% of your eligible registered childcare costs. There is a monthly cap of £1,014.63 for one child and £1,739.37 for two or more children. You need evidence uploaded to your UC account.
If I am using the 15/30 hours funded childcare am I also eligible for UC Childcare costs as well?
Yes! UC Childcare costs can be used to top up your eligible funded childcare hours if you are working more hours and require childcare.
How do I get support with upfront childcare costs?
If you are:
- Moving into work or,
- Increasing your hours at work
you might be eligible to claim upfront childcare costs, please speak to your work coach. If eligible, the payment will be made directly to your provider. You will not have to pay the money back.