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href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living/finding-things-difficult">If you鈥檙e finding things difficult</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-margin-top-6" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> Childcare and maternity costs </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>Find out what support is available with childcare and maternity costs in England. This includes free childcare hours and free school meals.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>Find out about cost of living <a rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/">support in Scotland</a>, <a rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.wales/help-cost-living">support in Wales</a> and <a rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/cost-living">support in Northern Ireland</a></p> </div> <h2 id="support-you-can-get">Support you can get</h2> <h3 id="child-benefit">Child Benefit</h3> <p>If you鈥檙e responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training) you can get help with child-related costs. <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit">Check if you鈥檙e eligible for Child Benefit</a>.</p> <h3 id="tax-free-childcare">Tax-Free Childcare</h3> <p>If you need help with the costs of childcare <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare">check if you鈥檙e eligible for Tax-Free Childcare</a>.</p> <h3 id="hours-free-childcare-a-week-for-3-to-4-year-olds">30 hours free childcare a week for 3 to 4-year-olds</h3> <p>If you鈥檙e working and your child is aged 3 to 4 <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare">check if you鈥檙e eligible for 30 hours free childcare a week</a>.</p> <h3 id="hours-free-childcare-a-week-for-3-to-4-year-olds-1">15 hours free childcare a week for 3 to 4-year-olds</h3> <p>All 3 to 4-year-olds can get free childcare. <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds">Find out about 15 hours free childcare a week</a>.</p> <h3 id="free-childcare-for-2-year-olds">Free childcare for 2-year-olds</h3> <p>If you get certain benefits and your child is 2-years-old <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds">check if you鈥檙e eligible for free childcare</a>.</p> <h3 id="universal-credit-and-childcare">Universal Credit and childcare</h3> <p>If you鈥檙e getting Universal Credit you can claim back some of your childcare costs. <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/universal-credit">Find out about support available with childcare if you鈥檙e on Universal Credit</a>.</p> <h2 id="support-with-food-and-milk-for-your-child">Support with food and milk for your child</h2> <h3 id="free-school-meals">Free school meals</h3> <p>Your child may be able to get free school meals. <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals">Check if your child is eligible for free school meals on your council鈥檚 website</a>.</p> <h3 id="healthy-start-food-and-milk-for-your-child">Healthy Start (food and milk for your child)</h3> <p>If you鈥檙e more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 and you鈥檙e getting certain benefits you can get help to buy healthy food and milk. <a rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/">Check if you鈥檙e eligible for help to buy food and milk for your child on the NHS website</a>.</p> <h2 id="support-with-maternity-costs">Support with maternity costs</h2> <h3 id="maternity-allowance">Maternity Allowance</h3> <p>You may be eligible for Maternity Allowance, if:</p> <ul> <li>you鈥檙e employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)</li> <li>you鈥檙e self-employed</li> <li>you鈥檝e recently stopped working</li> </ul> <p><a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance">Check if you鈥檙e eligible for Maternity Allowance</a>.</p> <h3 id="sure-start-maternity-grant">Sure Start Maternity Grant</h3> <p>If you or your partner get certain benefits and you鈥檙e having a child <a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility">check if you鈥檙e eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant</a>.</p> <h2 id="support-with-travel-costs">Support with travel costs</h2> <h3 id="home-to-school-transport">Home to school transport</h3> <p><a href="/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/help-home-school-transport">Find out if your child is eligible for help with the cost of home to school transport</a>.</p> <h3 id="family-and-friends-railcard">Family and Friends Railcard</h3> <p>If you travel by rail with your children <a rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/">check if you鈥檙e eligible for Family and Friends Railcard on the National Rail website</a>.</p> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination" data-module="ga4-link-tracker"> <div class="govuk-pagination__prev"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" 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"Cost of living support", "datePublished": "2023-03-21T10:54:56Z", "dateModified": "2023-04-11T13:14:15Z", "text": "Find out what support is available to help with the cost of living: income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "headLine": "Cost of living support", "description": "Find out what support is available to help with the cost of living: income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eFind out what support is available with childcare and maternity costs in England. This includes free childcare hours and free school meals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFind out about cost of living \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/\"\u003esupport in Scotland\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.gov.wales/help-cost-living\"\u003esupport in Wales\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/cost-living\"\u003esupport in Northern Ireland\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"support-you-can-get\"\u003eSupport you can get\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"child-benefit\"\u003eChild Benefit\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you鈥檙e responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training) you can get help with child-related costs. \u003ca href=\"/child-benefit\"\u003eCheck if you鈥檙e eligible for Child Benefit\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"tax-free-childcare\"\u003eTax-Free Childcare\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need help with the costs of childcare \u003ca href=\"/tax-free-childcare\"\u003echeck if you鈥檙e eligible for Tax-Free Childcare\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"hours-free-childcare-a-week-for-3-to-4-year-olds\"\u003e30 hours free childcare a week for 3 to 4-year-olds\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you鈥檙e working and your child is aged 3 to 4 \u003ca href=\"/30-hours-free-childcare\"\u003echeck if you鈥檙e eligible for 30 hours free childcare a week\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"hours-free-childcare-a-week-for-3-to-4-year-olds-1\"\u003e15 hours free childcare a week for 3 to 4-year-olds\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll 3 to 4-year-olds can get free childcare. \u003ca href=\"/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds\"\u003eFind out about 15 hours free childcare a week\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"free-childcare-for-2-year-olds\"\u003eFree childcare for 2-year-olds\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you get certain benefits and your child is 2-years-old \u003ca href=\"/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds\"\u003echeck if you鈥檙e eligible for free childcare\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"universal-credit-and-childcare\"\u003eUniversal Credit and childcare\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you鈥檙e getting Universal Credit you can claim back some of your childcare costs. \u003ca href=\"/help-with-childcare-costs/universal-credit\"\u003eFind out about support available with childcare if you鈥檙e on Universal Credit\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"support-with-food-and-milk-for-your-child\"\u003eSupport with food and milk for your child\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"free-school-meals\"\u003eFree school meals\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour child may be able to get free school meals. \u003ca href=\"/apply-free-school-meals\"\u003eCheck if your child is eligible for free school meals on your council鈥檚 website\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"healthy-start-food-and-milk-for-your-child\"\u003eHealthy Start (food and milk for your child)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you鈥檙e more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 and you鈥檙e getting certain benefits you can get help to buy healthy food and milk. \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/\"\u003eCheck if you鈥檙e eligible for help to buy food and milk for your child on the NHS website\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"support-with-maternity-costs\"\u003eSupport with maternity costs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"maternity-allowance\"\u003eMaternity Allowance\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may be eligible for Maternity Allowance, if:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檙e self-employed\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou鈥檝e recently stopped working\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/maternity-allowance\"\u003eCheck if you鈥檙e eligible for Maternity Allowance\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"sure-start-maternity-grant\"\u003eSure Start Maternity Grant\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you or your partner get certain benefits and you鈥檙e having a child \u003ca href=\"/sure-start-maternity-grant/eligibility\"\u003echeck if you鈥檙e eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"support-with-travel-costs\"\u003eSupport with travel costs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"home-to-school-transport\"\u003eHome to school transport\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/help-home-school-transport\"\u003eFind out if your child is eligible for help with the cost of home to school transport\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"family-and-friends-railcard\"\u003eFamily and Friends Railcard\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you travel by rail with your children \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/\"\u003echeck if you鈥檙e eligible for Family and Friends Railcard on the National Rail website\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172136/https://www.gov.uk/" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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