Help with paying for childcare

Tax-Free Childcare

Working parents can get up to £2,000 per child to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £4,000 a year if your child is disabled.

Check if you are eligible and how to apply on the UK Government website.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit can help with daily living costs if you:

• are working and on a low income
• out of work

Universal Credit replaces the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit

• Working Tax Credit

• Income Support

• Housing Benefit

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Find out more about Universal Credit on the UK Government website.

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

You can't make a new claim for Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit and must claim Universal Credit instead.

You can get Working Tax Credit if you are already claiming it or if you are already claiming Child Tax Credit.

Find out more about tax credits on the UK Government website.

Support from your employer

Speak to your employer to see if they have a employer subsidised childcare scheme.

If you work for the NHS you may be able to receive a NHS Bursary Childcare Allowance, find out more on the UK Government website

Support while you study

You maybe able to get help with your childcare costs if you are studying. For information on support options go to the UK Government website:

• Care to Learn scheme: you must be aged under 20 at the start of your course
• Learner Support: aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship
• Childcare Grant: in full-time higher education
• Parents' Learning Allowance
• Advance Learner Load - Loan Bursary Fund

Grandparent or family member who provides childcare

The Specified Adult Childcare National Insurance credits is for people aged 16 and over and under State Pension age who care for a child under 12. 

The National Insurance credits may help to fill in any gaps in your National Insurance record.

Read about who can apply for the Specified Adult Childcare credits on the UK Government website.

Useful websites

Read more about financial help if you have children:

UK Government website

Childcare Choices website

Benefit calculator

Find out what benefits you could get and how much on these websites:

• entitled to
• Policy in Practice
• Turn 2 Us

You can also contact your local independent advice organisation to find out what benefits you could access. To find your nearest service go to the advice local website.