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class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-translation-nav govuk-!-display-none-print gem-c-translation-nav " aria-label="Translations"> <ul class="gem-c-translation-nav__list"> <li class="gem-c-translation-nav__list-item"> <span lang="en">English</span> </li> <li class="gem-c-translation-nav__list-item"> <a hreflang="cy" lang="cy" rel="alternate" class="govuk-link gem-c-translation-nav__link " href="/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs.cy">Cymraeg</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <p class="gem-c-lead-paragraph">If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.</p> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="metadata-logo-wrapper"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds metadata-column"> <div class="gem-c-metadata" data-module="gem-toggle metadata"> <dl data-module="gem-track-click"> <dt class="gem-c-metadata__term">From:</dt> <dd class="gem-c-metadata__definition"> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions">Department for Work and Pensions</a> </dd> <dt class="gem-c-metadata__term">Published</dt> <dd class="gem-c-metadata__definition">27 June 2022</dd> <dt class="gem-c-metadata__term">Last updated</dt> <dd class="gem-c-metadata__definition"> 17 October 2022 — <a href="#full-publication-update-history" class="gem-c-metadata__definition-link govuk-!-display-none-print js-see-all-updates-link" data-track-category="content-history" data-track-action="see-all-updates-link-clicked" data-track-label="history"> See all updates </a> </dd> </dl> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-!-display-none-print govuk-!-margin-bottom-6" data-module="gem-track-click"> <form class="gem-c-single-page-notification-button" 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336.438l-49.015-72.002v-89.83c0-60.581-43.144-111.079-100.381-122.459V24.485C254.152 10.963 243.19 0 229.667 0s-24.485 10.963-24.485 24.485v27.663c-57.237 11.381-100.381 61.879-100.381 122.459v89.83l-49.015 72.002a24.76 24.76 0 0 0 20.468 38.693H383.08a24.761 24.761 0 0 0 20.469-38.694z"></path></svg><span class="gem-c-single-page-notication-button__text">Get emails about this page</span> </button> </form> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <section class="gem-c-devolved-nations"> <h2 class="govuk-heading-s govuk-!-margin-bottom-0"> Applies to England, Scotland and Wales </h2> </section> <div id="contents" class="app-c-contents-list-with-body" data-module="sticky-element-container"> <div class="responsive-bottom-margin"> <nav class="gem-c-contents-list" aria-label="Contents" role="navigation" data-module="gem-track-click"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 1" data-track-label="#how-childcare-costs-payments-work-on-universal-credit" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How childcare costs payments work on Universal Credit"}" href="#how-childcare-costs-payments-work-on-universal-credit">How childcare costs payments work on Universal Credit</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="#how-much-you-can-get" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How much you can get"}" href="#how-much-you-can-get">How much you can get</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="#get-help-with-the-upfront-cost-of-childcare" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Get help with the upfront cost of childcare"}" href="#get-help-with-the-upfront-cost-of-childcare">Get help with the upfront cost of childcare</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 4" data-track-label="#who-is-eligible-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Who is eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs"}" href="#who-is-eligible-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs">Who is eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 5" data-track-label="#if-your-partner-does-not-work-but-cannot-look-after-your-children" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"If your partner does not work but cannot look after your children"}" href="#if-your-partner-does-not-work-but-cannot-look-after-your-children">If your partner does not work but cannot look after your children</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 6" data-track-label="#what-childcare-costs-can-cover" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"What childcare costs can cover"}" href="#what-childcare-costs-can-cover">What childcare costs can cover</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 7" data-track-label="#how-to-report-your-childcare-costs" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How to report your childcare costs"}" href="#how-to-report-your-childcare-costs">How to report your childcare costs</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 8" data-track-label="#evidence-for-your-childcare-costs" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Evidence for your childcare costs"}" href="#evidence-for-your-childcare-costs">Evidence for your childcare costs</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 9" data-track-label="#how-universal-credit-childcare-works-with-other-government-childcare-costs-schemes" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How Universal Credit childcare works with other government childcare costs schemes"}" href="#how-universal-credit-childcare-works-with-other-government-childcare-costs-schemes">How Universal Credit childcare works with other government childcare costs schemes</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 10" data-track-label="#contact-universal-credit" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Contact Universal Credit"}" href="#contact-universal-credit">Contact Universal Credit</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> <div class="gem-c-print-link govuk-!-display-none-print govuk-!-margin-top-0 govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <button class="govuk-link govuk-body-s gem-c-print-link__button" data-module="ga4-event-tracker print-link" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"print_page","type":"print page","index":{"index_link":1},"index_total":2,"section":"Content"}">Print this page</button> </div> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak " data-module="govspeak"> <div class="govspeak"> <p>If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. This includes holiday clubs, after-school clubs and breakfast clubs. If you live with a partner, you both need to be working, unless your partner cannot look after your children.</p> <h2 id="how-childcare-costs-payments-work-on-universal-credit">How childcare costs payments work on Universal Credit</h2> <p>You have to pay for your childcare costs yourself. Then you report them to Universal Credit, and Universal Credit pays some of the money back.</p> <p>You will only get the money back after the childcare actually happens.</p> <p>If you pay for childcare after it’s been provided, we pay back your costs in the same month that you report them.</p> <p>You can claim back up to 3 months of past childcare costs at a time - but if you’re claiming for more than one month you might not get all the money back.</p> <p>You can also claim back up to 3 months of future childcare costs at a time. We pay these costs back month by month - not in one lump sum.</p> <p>Payments for childcare costs are included in your total monthly Universal Credit payment. That total payment can go up or down, depending on how much you earn from work. So, if you earn more than usual one month, your total Universal Credit payment might go down, including the amount you get for childcare costs.</p> <h2 id="how-much-you-can-get">How much you can get</h2> <p>You can get up to 85% of childcare costs paid back to you. The maximum amount a month is:</p> <ul> <li>£646.35 for one child</li> <li>£1,108.04 for 2 or more children</li> </ul> <p>Use a <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators" class="govuk-link">benefits calculator</a> to see how much you might get.</p> <h2 id="get-help-with-the-upfront-cost-of-childcare">Get help with the upfront cost of childcare</h2> <p>You need to pay for childcare first. If you cannot pay that upfront cost, you might be able to get help with that too. Ask about:</p> <ul> <li>money from the Flexible Support Fund (you do not need to pay this back)</li> <li>an advance from Universal Credit (you have to pay this back)</li> </ul> <h2 id="who-is-eligible-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs">Who is eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs</h2> <p>You need to be either:</p> <ul> <li>in paid work</li> <li>starting a job in the next month</li> </ul> <p>If you live with a partner, you both need to be in paid work, unless your partner cannot look after your children.</p> <p>It does not matter how many hours you work – there is no minimum.</p> <p>It must be paid work, so you’re not eligible if you are volunteering and only getting money for expenses.</p> <p>If you’re on sick leave, you may also be eligible if you’re getting Statutory Sick Pay</p> <p>If you’re on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, you may also be eligible if you’re getting one of:</p> <ul> <li>Statutory Maternity Pay</li> <li>Statutory Paternity Pay</li> <li>Statutory Shared Parental Pay</li> <li>Statutory Adoption Pay</li> <li>Maternity Allowance</li> </ul> <p>You can claim childcare costs for all the children you’re responsible for, until the 31 August after their 16th birthday.</p> <h2 id="if-your-partner-does-not-work-but-cannot-look-after-your-children">If your partner does not work but cannot look after your children</h2> <p>You can still claim childcare costs if your partner:</p> <ul> <li>has a health condition or disability which means they have limited capability for work (<abbr title="limited capability for work">LCW</abbr>) or limited capability for work related activity (<abbr title="limited capability for work related activity">LCWRA</abbr>)</li> <li>cares for a severely disabled person (and is eligible for Carer’s Allowance)</li> <li>has to be away from home temporarily, for example in hospital</li> </ul> <h2 id="what-childcare-costs-can-cover">What childcare costs can cover</h2> <p>Your childcare must be with ‘registered’ childcare providers.</p> <p>Usually that means they registered with OFSTED, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, or the Care and Social Services Inspectorate in Wales.</p> <p>That could include nurseries, preschools, after-school clubs, breakfast clubs, childminders, nannies and holiday clubs.</p> <p>Universal Credit will cover ‘reasonable’ childcare costs that help you work or get into work. That could include:</p> <ul> <li>a ‘settling-in period’ before you start work, so your child can get used to being in childcare</li> <li>childcare while you travel to work</li> <li>childcare in the month after you lose a job</li> </ul> <p>Childcare for changing work patterns or zero-hours contracts can also be considered ‘reasonable’.</p> <p>For example, if you have to pay childcare costs so that you are available to work your usual hours, and then you actually get less work hours than you expected, that’s considered ‘reasonable’.</p> <h2 id="how-to-report-your-childcare-costs">How to report your childcare costs</h2> <p>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.</p> <p>Report them as soon as you pay for them. If you leave it for longer than 2 months, you might not get the money back.</p> <h2 id="evidence-for-your-childcare-costs">Evidence for your childcare costs</h2> <p>You will need to have proof of your childcare provider and payments.</p> <p>As proof of your provider, you need a contract, invoice or letter from them showing all of these:</p> <ul> <li>their name, registration number, address and phone number</li> <li>the names of your children that they look after</li> <li>the type of childcare, for example after-school or nursery care</li> </ul> <p>You only need to do this once per provider.</p> <p>We might also ask to see proof of your payment showing:</p> <ul> <li>the dates of childcare you paid for</li> <li>how much you paid</li> <li>the date you made the payment</li> </ul> <p>You can provide a paid invoice showing all of this, or a combination of:</p> <ul> <li>bank statements</li> <li>receipts from the provider</li> <li>invoices from the provider</li> </ul> <h2 id="how-universal-credit-childcare-works-with-other-government-childcare-costs-schemes">How Universal Credit childcare works with other government childcare costs schemes</h2> <p>You might be able to use one of the other childcare costs schemes – <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/" class="govuk-link">check what help you can get to pay for childcare</a>.</p> <p>You cannot get tax-free childcare if you are on Universal Credit.</p> <h2 id="contact-universal-credit">Contact Universal Credit</h2> <p>If you need help to check if you are eligible for childcare costs, you can:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit" class="govuk-link">contact Universal Credit</a></li> <li>ask at a jobcentre</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="app-c-published-dates app-c-published-dates--history govuk-!-margin-bottom-5" id="full-publication-update-history" data-module="gem-toggle" lang="en"> Published 27 June 2022 <br>Last updated 17 October 2022 <a href="#full-history" class="app-c-published-dates__toggle govuk-link" data-controls="full-history" data-expanded="false" data-toggled-text="- hide all updates">+ show all updates</a> <div class="app-c-published-dates__change-history js-hidden" id="full-history"> <ol class="app-c-published-dates__list"> <li class="app-c-published-dates__change-item"> <time class="app-c-published-dates__change-date timestamp" datetime="2022-10-17T13:52:51.000+01:00">17 October 2022</time> <p class="app-c-published-dates__change-note">Added a link to a survey about the information on the page - we’ll use what you tell us to improve the page.</p> </li> <li class="app-c-published-dates__change-item"> <time class="app-c-published-dates__change-date timestamp" datetime="2022-06-27T11:49:00.000+01:00">27 June 2022</time> <p class="app-c-published-dates__change-note">Added translation</p> </li> </ol> </div> </div> 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"http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs" }, "name": "Universal Credit childcare costs", "datePublished": "2022-06-27T10:49:00.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2022-10-17T12:52:51.000+00:00", "text": "If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", 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"CreativeWork", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-information-for-stakeholders-and-partners" } ], "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/childcare-and-early-years" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/universal-credit" } ], "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Universal Credit childcare costs", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs", "text": "\u003cdiv class=\"govspeak\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. This includes holiday clubs, after-school clubs and breakfast clubs. If you live with a partner, you both need to be working, unless your partner cannot look after your children.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-childcare-costs-payments-work-on-universal-credit\"\u003eHow childcare costs payments work on Universal Credit\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou have to pay for your childcare costs yourself. Then you report them to Universal Credit, and Universal Credit pays some of the money back.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou will only get the money back after the childcare actually happens.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you pay for childcare after it’s been provided, we pay back your costs in the same month that you report them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can claim back up to 3 months of past childcare costs at a time - but if you’re claiming for more than one month you might not get all the money back.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also claim back up to 3 months of future childcare costs at a time. We pay these costs back month by month - not in one lump sum.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePayments for childcare costs are included in your total monthly Universal Credit payment. That total payment can go up or down, depending on how much you earn from work. So, if you earn more than usual one month, your total Universal Credit payment might go down, including the amount you get for childcare costs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-much-you-can-get\"\u003eHow much you can get\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can get up to 85% of childcare costs paid back to you. The maximum amount a month is:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e£646.35 for one child\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e£1,108.04 for 2 or more children\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUse a \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003ebenefits calculator\u003c/a\u003e to see how much you might get.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"get-help-with-the-upfront-cost-of-childcare\"\u003eGet help with the upfront cost of childcare\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou need to pay for childcare first. If you cannot pay that upfront cost, you might be able to get help with that too. Ask about:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003emoney from the Flexible Support Fund (you do not need to pay this back)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ean advance from Universal Credit (you have to pay this back)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"who-is-eligible-for-universal-credit-childcare-costs\"\u003eWho is eligible for Universal Credit childcare costs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou need to be either:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ein paid work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003estarting a job in the next month\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you live with a partner, you both need to be in paid work, unless your partner cannot look after your children.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt does not matter how many hours you work – there is no minimum.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt must be paid work, so you’re not eligible if you are volunteering and only getting money for expenses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re on sick leave, you may also be eligible if you’re getting Statutory Sick Pay\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, you may also be eligible if you’re getting one of:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eStatutory Maternity Pay\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eStatutory Paternity Pay\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eStatutory Shared Parental Pay\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eStatutory Adoption Pay\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMaternity Allowance\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can claim childcare costs for all the children you’re responsible for, until the 31 August after their 16th birthday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"if-your-partner-does-not-work-but-cannot-look-after-your-children\"\u003eIf your partner does not work but cannot look after your children\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can still claim childcare costs if your partner:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehas a health condition or disability which means they have limited capability for work (\u003cabbr title=\"limited capability for work\"\u003eLCW\u003c/abbr\u003e) or limited capability for work related activity (\u003cabbr title=\"limited capability for work related activity\"\u003eLCWRA\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ecares for a severely disabled person (and is eligible for Carer’s Allowance)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehas to be away from home temporarily, for example in hospital\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-childcare-costs-can-cover\"\u003eWhat childcare costs can cover\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour childcare must be with ‘registered’ childcare providers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsually that means they registered with OFSTED, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, or the Care and Social Services Inspectorate in Wales.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat could include nurseries, preschools, after-school clubs, breakfast clubs, childminders, nannies and holiday clubs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUniversal Credit will cover ‘reasonable’ childcare costs that help you work or get into work. That could include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ea ‘settling-in period’ before you start work, so your child can get used to being in childcare\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echildcare while you travel to work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echildcare in the month after you lose a job\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChildcare for changing work patterns or zero-hours contracts can also be considered ‘reasonable’.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, if you have to pay childcare costs so that you are available to work your usual hours, and then you actually get less work hours than you expected, that’s considered ‘reasonable’.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-to-report-your-childcare-costs\"\u003eHow to report your childcare costs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou 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.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReport them as soon as you pay for them. If you leave it for longer than 2 months, you might not get the money back.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"evidence-for-your-childcare-costs\"\u003eEvidence for your childcare costs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou will need to have proof of your childcare provider and payments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs proof of your provider, you need a contract, invoice or letter from them showing all of these:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etheir name, registration number, address and phone number\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe names of your children that they look after\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe type of childcare, for example after-school or nursery care\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou only need to do this once per provider.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe might also ask to see proof of your payment showing:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe dates of childcare you paid for\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehow much you paid\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe date you made the payment\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can provide a paid invoice showing all of this, or a combination of:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ebank statements\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ereceipts from the provider\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003einvoices from the provider\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-universal-credit-childcare-works-with-other-government-childcare-costs-schemes\"\u003eHow Universal Credit childcare works with other government childcare costs schemes\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou might be able to use one of the other childcare costs schemes – \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003echeck what help you can get to pay for childcare\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou cannot get tax-free childcare if you are on Universal Credit.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"contact-universal-credit\"\u003eContact Universal Credit\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need help to check if you are eligible for childcare costs, you can:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/contact-universal-credit\" class=\"govuk-link\"\u003econtact Universal Credit\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eask at a jobcentre\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c/div\u003e" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Welfare", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/welfare" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Benefits for families", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230307213737/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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