<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="govuk-template" lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs","20220923120046","http://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1663934446"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta property="og:description" content="If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs."> <meta property="og:title" content="Universal Credit childcare costs"> <meta property="og:url" content="http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="GOV.UK"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="description" content="If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs."> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slugs" content="families,childcare-and-early-years,universal-credit"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slug" content="families"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-ids" content="29dbee2a-5865-489b-860f-7eef54a5165a,f1d9c348-5c5e-4fc6-9172-13a62537d3ae,62fcbba5-3a75-4d15-85a6-d8a80b03d57c"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-id" content="29dbee2a-5865-489b-860f-7eef54a5165a"> <meta name="govuk:themes" content="childcare-parenting, welfare"> <meta name="govuk:analytics:organisations" content="<D10>"> <meta name="govuk:primary-publishing-organisation" content="Department for Work and Pensions"> <meta name="govuk:public-updated-at" content="2022-06-27T10:49:52.000+00:00"> <meta name="govuk:updated-at" content="2022-09-23T11:44:40.400Z"> <meta name="govuk:first-published-at" content="2022-06-27T10:49:52.000+00:00"> <meta name="govuk:content-has-history" content="true"> <meta name="govuk:content-id" content="fc0dfa8f-55c7-451e-9c06-40dcc5f5dd18"> <meta name="govuk:schema-name" content="detailed_guide"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-app" content="government-frontend"> <meta name="govuk:publishing-app" content="whitehall"> <meta name="govuk:format" content="detailed_guide"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title lang="en"> Universal Credit childcare costs - GOV.UK </title> <script src="/web/20220923120046js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-measurer-505eef3e243b1d08ea7c4b945ebe1ae146d896db61366e415b30cc1bcd84cbdc.js" async="async"></script> <script src="/web/20220923120046js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/rum-loader-c53469dcb841d7b228c914a2e8bdcf3b831a578adf7d4f21cf9da5b85df7381e.js" async="async" data-lux-reporter-script="/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-reporter-0630526d2811f955ec5e421a6233bd828938bf706c2481233ef4efb8831d0625.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220923120046cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-4d0a30e4ea17a02c4ff0e896efebbf3cf3eedb16204f9a9111fb075418950d6c.css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220923120046cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/print-bec47bfcef04d828411851a031b4ff4de7144980b52046d17755e41959083555.css" media="print">  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/favicon-9ed7849c462c53aa2cdf1690eb257e801ecbf5696d1d0928868c5b032b4adb36.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-mask-icon-a409a4db4a5e72c99ae3916653710064c43eb4be35821f79c07c5156e7dc5808.svg" color="#0b0c0c"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-180x180-026deaa34fa328ae5f1f519a37dbd15e6555c5086e1ba83986cd0827a7209902.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-167x167-a44a5b317f51a61950697fbe6c61ffe3b5acdd89de60ef70429daa32881d5279.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-152x152-828a839e5c83de19f98014eef54cec77aa11063a23ce321970d6f9310eeabb6c.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-5f801db05920bd1eb2b27a7a90328599bb16b6344c3213795af0f20d3ca179b0.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#0b0c0c"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta property="og:image" content="/web/20220923120046im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-opengraph-image-dade2dad5775023b0568381c4c074b86318194edb36d3d68df721eea7deeac4b.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220923120046cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-69450ed4fc007ef22e313f1c73a1f02c3aba8f2eab45d754ce20b3c7eb538e4c.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220923120046cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/print-bcb988c58a27d6eb2bbce8bdaa46a916550927b9715bd8bf8b69a36c3716d40f.css" media="print"> <link rel="canonical" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-application" content="government-frontend"> </head> <body class="gem-c-layout-for-public govuk-template__body"> <script> document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled'); </script> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#content">Skip to main content</a> <div id="global-cookie-message" class="gem-c-cookie-banner govuk-clearfix" data-module="cookie-banner" role="region" aria-label="cookie banner" data-nosnippet> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner js-banner-wrapper" role="region" aria-label="Cookies on GOV.UK"> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__message govuk-cookie-banner__message govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <h2 class="govuk-cookie-banner__heading govuk-heading-m">Cookies on GOV.UK</h2> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner__content"> <p class="govuk-body">We use some essential cookies to make this website work.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-accept-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner accepted" data-cookie-types="all">Accept additional cookies</button> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-reject-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner rejected">Reject additional cookies</button> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">View cookies</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation govuk-width-container" tabindex="-1" hidden> <p class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message" role="alert">You can <a class="govuk-link" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner settings clicked from confirmation" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">change your cookie settings</a> at any time.</p> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-cookie-banner__hide-button govuk-button" data-hide-cookie-banner="true" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Hide cookie banner">Hide this message</button> </div> </div> </div> <header role="banner" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__container govuk-width-container govuk-clearfix"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__header-logo"> <a class="govuk-header__link govuk-header__link--homepage" data-track-action="logoLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.gov.uk" data-track-dimension="GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/" id="logo" title="Go to the GOV.UK homepage"> <span class="govuk-header__logotype">  <svg aria-hidden="true" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__logotype-crown" focusable="false" height="30" viewbox="0 0 132 97" width="36" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M25 30.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.2-3.6-1.4-7.6.3-9.1 3.9-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.9 9zM9 39.5c3.6 1.5 7.8-.2 9.2-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.2-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.8 9zM4.4 57.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.5-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.6 3.9 9.1zm38.3-21.4c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.3 3.6.4 7.7 3.9 9.1zm64.4-5.6c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.8-9.2 3.6-1.4 7.7.3 9.2 3.9 1.3 3.5-.4 7.5-3.9 9zm15.9 9.3c-3.6 1.5-7.7-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.7-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.2 9.2 3.8 1.5 3.5-.3 7.5-3.8 9zm4.7 17.7c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.5-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.3 3.5-.4 7.6-3.9 9.1zM89.3 35.8c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.4-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.4 3.6-.3 7.7-3.9 9.1zM69.7 17.7l8.9 4.7V9.3l-8.9 2.8c-.2-.3-.5-.6-.9-.9L72.4 0H59.6l3.5 11.2c-.3.3-.6.5-.9.9l-8.8-2.8v13.1l8.8-4.7c.3.3.6.7.9.9l-5 15.4v.1c-.2.8-.4 1.6-.4 2.4 0 4.1 3.1 7.5 7 8.1h.2c.3 0 .7.1 1 .1.4 0 .7 0 1-.1h.2c4-.6 7.1-4.1 7.1-8.1 0-.8-.1-1.7-.4-2.4V34l-5.1-15.4c.4-.2.7-.6 1-.9zM66 92.8c16.9 0 32.8 1.1 47.1 3.2 4-16.9 8.9-26.7 14-33.5l-9.6-3.4c1 4.9 1.1 7.2 0 10.2-1.5-1.4-3-4.3-4.2-8.7L108.6 76c2.8-2 5-3.2 7.5-3.3-4.4 9.4-10 11.9-13.6 11.2-4.3-.8-6.3-4.6-5.6-7.9 1-4.7 5.7-5.9 8-.5 4.3-8.7-3-11.4-7.6-8.8 7.1-7.2 7.9-13.5 2.1-21.1-8 6.1-8.1 12.3-4.5 20.8-4.7-5.4-12.1-2.5-9.5 6.2 3.4-5.2 7.9-2 7.2 3.1-.6 4.3-6.4 7.8-13.5 7.2-10.3-.9-10.9-8-11.2-13.8 2.5-.5 7.1 1.8 11 7.3L80.2 60c-4.1 4.4-8 5.3-12.3 5.4 1.4-4.4 8-11.6 8-11.6H55.5s6.4 7.2 7.9 11.6c-4.2-.1-8-1-12.3-5.4l1.4 16.4c3.9-5.5 8.5-7.7 10.9-7.3-.3 5.8-.9 12.8-11.1 13.8-7.2.6-12.9-2.9-13.5-7.2-.7-5 3.8-8.3 7.1-3.1 2.7-8.7-4.6-11.6-9.4-6.2 3.7-8.5 3.6-14.7-4.6-20.8-5.8 7.6-5 13.9 2.2 21.1-4.7-2.6-11.9.1-7.7 8.8 2.3-5.5 7.1-4.2 8.1.5.7 3.3-1.3 7.1-5.7 7.9-3.5.7-9-1.8-13.5-11.2 2.5.1 4.7 1.3 7.5 3.3l-4.7-15.4c-1.2 4.4-2.7 7.2-4.3 8.7-1.1-3-.9-5.3 0-10.2l-9.5 3.4c5 6.9 9.9 16.7 14 33.5 14.8-2.1 30.8-3.2 47.7-3.2z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"> </path> </svg>   <span class="govuk-header__logotype-text"> GOV.UK </span> </span> </a> </div> <nav aria-labelledby="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__content" data-module="super-navigation-mega-menu"> <h2 id="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Navigation menu </h2> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide navigation menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide navigation menu" data-text-for-show="Show navigation menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="hidden" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-tracking-key="menu" hidden id="super-navigation-menu-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button-inner"> Menu </span> </button> <ul id="super-navigation-menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-items"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item--with-children"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-toggle-wrapper govuk-clearfix"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse" data-track-dimension="Topics" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Topics </span> </a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu__section-512740e8" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show Topics menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide Topics menu" data-text-for-show="Show Topics menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="second" data-tracking-key="topics" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu__section-512740e8-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button-inner">Topics</span> </button> </div> <div hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu" id="super-navigation-menu__section-512740e8"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop"> <h3 class="govuk-body-l gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__menu-description"> Find information and services </h3> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--topics"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-dimension="Benefits" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-dimension="Births, death, marriages and care" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-dimension="Business and self-employed" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-dimension="Childcare and parenting" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-dimension="Citizenship and living in the UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-dimension="Cost of living support" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-dimension="Crime, justice and the law" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-dimension="Disabled people" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-dimension="Driving and transport" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-dimension="Education and learning" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-dimension="Employing people" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-dimension="Environment and countryside" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-dimension="Housing and local services" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-dimension="Money and tax" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-dimension="Passports, travel and living abroad" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-dimension="Visas and immigration" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-dimension="Working, jobs and pensions" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item--with-children"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-toggle-wrapper govuk-clearfix"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="Government activity" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Government activity </span> </a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu__section-c58f221e" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show Government activity menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide Government activity menu" data-text-for-show="Show Government activity menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="second" data-tracking-key="governmentactivity" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu__section-c58f221e-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button-inner">Government activity</span> </button> </div> <div hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu" id="super-navigation-menu__section-c58f221e"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop"> <h3 class="govuk-body-l gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__menu-description"> Search for a department and find out what the government is doing </h3> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--government-activity"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-dimension="Departments" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Departments, agencies and public bodies</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="News" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">News stories, speeches, letters and notices</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-dimension="Guidance and regulation" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Detailed guidance, regulations and rules</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-dimension="Research and statistics" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Reports, analysis and official statistics</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-dimension="Policy papers and consultations" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Consultations and strategy</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-dimension="Transparency" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports</p> </li> </ul> <hr class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-break govuk-section-break govuk-section-break--visible"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-list"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-dimension="How government works" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-dimension="Get involved" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <button aria-controls="super-search-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide search menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide search menu" data-text-for-show="Show search menu" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-tracking-key="search" hidden id="super-search-menu-toggle" type="button"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-close-icon" focusable="false"> × </span> </button> <div id="super-search-menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-items"> <h3 class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search </h3> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-text"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="10.0161" cy="10.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="15.8668" y1="16.3587" x2="25.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </a> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-and-popular"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <form class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-form" id="search" action="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search" method="get" role="search" aria-label="Site-wide"> <div class="gem-c-search govuk-!-display-none-print gem-c-search--large gem-c-search--on-white gem-c-search--separate-label" data-module="gem-toggle-input-class-on-focus"> <label for="search-main-fe160354" class="govuk-label govuk-label--m">Search GOV.UK</label> <div class="gem-c-search__item-wrapper"> <input enterkeyhint="search" class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__input js-class-toggle" id="search-main-fe160354" name="q" title="Search" type="search" value=""> <div class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__submit-wrapper"> <button class="gem-c-search__submit" type="submit" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-action="searchSubmitted" data-track-label="/search/all" data-track-dimension="Search on GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-module="gem-track-click" enterkeyhint="search"> Search <svg class="gem-c-search__icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m">Popular on GOV.UK</h3> <ul class="govuk-list"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/check-benefits-financial-support" data-track-dimension="Check benefits and financial support you can get" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support">Check benefits and financial support you can get</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/publications/energy-bills-support/energy-bills-support-factsheet-8-september-2022" data-track-dimension="Limits on energy prices: Energy Price Guarantee" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support/energy-bills-support-factsheet-8-september-2022">Limits on energy prices: Energy Price Guarantee</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/find-a-job" data-track-dimension="Find a job" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job">Find a job</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/coronavirus" data-track-dimension="Coronavirus (COVID-19)" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus">Coronavirus (COVID-19)</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/sign-in-universal-credit" data-track-dimension="Universal Credit account: sign in" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit">Universal Credit account: sign in</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <div class="gem-c-layout-for-public__blue-bar govuk-width-container"></div> <div id="wrapper" class="direction-ltr govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-breadcrumbs"> <div class="gem-c-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs--collapse-on-mobile" data-module="gem-track-click"> <ol class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list"> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="homeLinkClicked" data-track-action="homeBreadcrumb" data-track-label="" data-track-options="{}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/">Home</a> </li> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="breadcrumbClicked" data-track-action="2" data-track-label="/welfare" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Welfare"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare">Welfare</a> </li> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="breadcrumbClicked" data-track-action="3" data-track-label="/welfare/families" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Benefits for families"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families">Benefits for families</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <main role="main" id="content" class="detailed-guide" lang="en"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <span class="govuk-caption-xl gem-c-title__context"> Guidance </span> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-l"> Universal Credit childcare costs </h1> </div> </div> <div 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/20220923120046/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 govuk-!-margin-bottom-3" 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/20220923120046/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> </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" action="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/email/subscriptions/single-page/new" method="POST" data-track-label="/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs" data-track-action="Subscribe-button-top" data-track-category="Single-page-notification-button" data-button-location="top"> <input type="hidden" name="base_path" value="/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <button class="govuk-body-s gem-c-single-page-notification-button__submit" type="submit"> <svg class="gem-c-single-page-notification-button__icon" aria-hidden="true" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="18" width="18" viewbox="0 0 459.334 459.334"><path fill="currentColor" d="M177.216 404.514c-.001.12-.009.239-.009.359 0 30.078 24.383 54.461 54.461 54.461s54.461-24.383 54.461-54.461c0-.12-.008-.239-.009-.359H175.216zM403.549 336.438l-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>Get emails about this page </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_name":"print_page","type":"Print this page","index":1,"index_total":2,"section":"Contents"}">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/20220923120046/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/20220923120046/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/20220923120046/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="responsive-bottom-margin"> <div class="app-c-published-dates govuk-!-margin-bottom-3" lang="en"> Published 27 June 2022 </div> <div class="govuk-!-display-none-print govuk-!-margin-bottom-0" data-module="gem-track-click"> <form class="gem-c-single-page-notification-button" action="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/email/subscriptions/single-page/new" method="POST" data-track-label="/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs" data-track-action="Subscribe-button-bottom" data-track-category="Single-page-notification-button" data-button-location="bottom"> <input type="hidden" name="base_path" value="/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <button class="govuk-body-s gem-c-single-page-notification-button__submit" type="submit"> <svg class="gem-c-single-page-notification-button__icon" aria-hidden="true" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="18" width="18" viewbox="0 0 459.334 459.334"><path fill="currentColor" d="M177.216 404.514c-.001.12-.009.239-.009.359 0 30.078 24.383 54.461 54.461 54.461s54.461-24.383 54.461-54.461c0-.12-.008-.239-.009-.359H175.216zM403.549 336.438l-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>Get emails about this page </button> </form> </div> </div> <div data-sticky-element class="app-c-contents-list-with-body__link-wrapper"> <div class="app-c-contents-list-with-body__link-container"> <a class="govuk-link app-c-back-to-top dont-print" href="#contents"> <svg class="app-c-back-to-top__icon" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="13" height="17" viewbox="0 0 13 17" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z"></path> </svg> Contents </a> </div> </div> </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_name":"print_page","type":"Print this page","index":2,"index_total":2,"section":"Footer"}">Print this page</button> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-sidebar"> <div class="gem-c-related-navigation"> <h2 id="related-nav-related_items-7dfba14e" class="gem-c-related-navigation__main-heading" data-track-count="sidebarRelatedItemSection"> Related content </h2> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-related-navigation__nav-section" aria-labelledby="related-nav-related_items-7dfba14e" data-module="gem-toggle"> <ul class="gem-c-related-navigation__link-list" data-module="gem-track-click"> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.1 Related content" data-track-label="/apply-for-tax-free-childcare" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"5","dimension29":"Apply for Tax-Free Childcare"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare">Apply for Tax-Free Childcare</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.2 Related content" data-track-label="/apply-30-hours-free-childcare" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"5","dimension29":"Apply for 30 hours free childcare"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare">Apply for 30 hours free childcare</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.3 Related content" data-track-label="/guidance/universal-credit-and-families-with-more-than-2-children-information-for-claimants" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"5","dimension29":"Universal Credit: support for a maximum of 2 children: information for claimants"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-families-with-more-than-2-children-information-for-claimants">Universal Credit: support for a maximum of 2 children: information for claimants</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.4 Related content" data-track-label="/tax-free-childcare" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"5","dimension29":"Tax-Free Childcare"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare">Tax-Free Childcare</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--inline govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.5 Related content" data-track-label="/30-hours-free-childcare" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"5","dimension29":"30 hours free childcare"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare">30 hours free childcare</a></li> </ul> </nav> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-related-navigation__nav-section" aria-labelledby="related-nav-collections-7dfba14e" data-module="gem-toggle"> <h3 id="related-nav-collections-7dfba14e" class="gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading--sidebar" data-track-count="sidebarRelatedItemSection">Collection</h3> <ul class="gem-c-related-navigation__link-list" data-module="gem-track-click"> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="2.1 Collection" data-track-label="/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"2","dimension29":"Universal Credit: detailed information for claimants"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants">Universal Credit: detailed information for claimants</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="2.2 Collection" data-track-label="/government/collections/universal-credit-information-for-stakeholders-and-partners" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"2","dimension29":"Universal Credit: information for stakeholders and partners"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-information-for-stakeholders-and-partners">Universal Credit: information for stakeholders and partners</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-footer"> <div class="gem-c-related-navigation"> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-related-navigation__nav-section" aria-labelledby="related-nav-topics-32e18bfc" data-module="gem-toggle"> <h2 id="related-nav-topics-32e18bfc" class="gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading--footer" data-track-count="footerRelatedItemSection">Explore the topic</h2> <ul class="gem-c-related-navigation__link-list" data-module="gem-track-click"> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.1 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/childcare-parenting/childcare-and-early-years" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Childcare and early years"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/childcare-and-early-years">Childcare and early years</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.2 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/welfare/families" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Benefits for families"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families">Benefits for families</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.3 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/welfare/universal-credit" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Universal Credit"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/universal-credit">Universal Credit</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-feedback govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="feedback ga4-event-tracker"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt gem-c-feedback__js-show js-prompt" tabindex="-1"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions js-prompt-questions" hidden> <h2 class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question">Is this page useful?</h2> <ul class="gem-c-feedback__option-list"> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item govuk-visually-hidden" style="display: none" hidden> <a class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-link" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffMaybeClick" role="button" style="display: none" hidden="hidden" aria-hidden="true" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk"> Maybe </a> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-page-is-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffYesClick" data-ga4="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Yes", "section": "Is this page useful?"}"> Yes <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is useful</span> </button> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-page-is-not-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffNoClick" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="false" data-ga4="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"No", "section": "Is this page useful?"}"> No <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is not useful</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-success js-prompt-success" role="alert" hidden> Thank you for your feedback </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions--something-is-wrong js-prompt-questions" hidden> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-something-is-wrong" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV-UK Open Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="false"> Report a problem with this page </button> </div> </div> <form action="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/problem_reports" id="something-is-wrong" class="gem-c-feedback__form js-feedback-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Send Form" method="post" hidden> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close gem-c-feedback__js-show js-close-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Close Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="true"> Close </button> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary gem-c-feedback__js-show js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="feedback_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.</p> <div class="govuk-visually-hidden" aria-hidden="true"> <label for="giraffe">This field is for robots only. Please leave blank</label> <input id="giraffe" name="giraffe" type="text" pattern=".{0}" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off"> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-9de330f4" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What were you doing?</label> <textarea name="what_doing" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-9de330f4" rows="3" spellcheck="true" aria-describedby="feedback_explanation"> </textarea> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-59b45256" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What went wrong?</label> <textarea name="what_wrong" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-59b45256" rows="3" spellcheck="true"> </textarea> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit">Send</button> </div> </div> </form> <script> document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () { var input = document.querySelector("#giraffe"), form = document.querySelector("#something-is-wrong") form.addEventListener("submit", spamCapture); function spamCapture(e) { if (input.value.length !== 0) return; e.preventDefault(); } }); </script> <form action="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/email-survey-signup" id="page-is-not-useful" class="gem-c-feedback__form gem-c-feedback__form--email gem-c-feedback__js-show js-feedback-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="Send Form" method="post"> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close js-close-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffFormClose" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="true" hidden> Close </button> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="survey-wrapper"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_id]" type="hidden" value="footer_satisfaction_survey"> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_source]" type="hidden" value="/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="survey_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.</p> <div class="govuk-form-group"> <label for="input-f1284187" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">Email address</label> <input aria-describedby="survey_explanation" autocomplete="email" class="gem-c-input govuk-input" id="input-f1284187" name="email_survey_signup[email_address]" spellcheck="false" type="email"> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit">Send me the survey</button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <footer class="gem-c-layout-footer govuk-footer gem-c-layout-footer--border" role="contentinfo"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-footer__navigation" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Topics</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-2"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Benefits"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Births, death, marriages and care"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Business and self-employed"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Childcare and parenting"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Citizenship and living in the UK"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Cost of living support"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Crime, justice and the law"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Disabled people"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Driving and transport"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Education and learning"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Employing people"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Environment and countryside"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Housing and local services"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Money and tax"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Passports, travel and living abroad"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Visas and immigration"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Working, jobs and pensions"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Government activity</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-1"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Departments"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"News"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Guidance and regulation"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Research and statistics"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Policy papers and consultations"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Transparency"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How government works"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Get involved"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr class="govuk-footer__section-break"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item govuk-footer__meta-item--grow"> <h2 class="govuk-visually-hidden">Support links</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__inline-list govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Help"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help">Help</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/privacy-notice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Privacy"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/cookies" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Cookies"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">Cookies</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/accessibility-statement" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Accessibility statement"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement">Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/contact" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Contact"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/terms-conditions" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Terms and conditions"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/help/terms-conditions">Terms and conditions</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" lang="cy" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/cymraeg" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/cymraeg">Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations/government-digital-service" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Government Digital Service"}" href="/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service">Government Digital Service</a> </li> </ul> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="govuk-footer__licence-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 483.2 195.7" height="17" width="41"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M421.5 142.8V.1l-50.7 32.3v161.1h112.4v-50.7zm-122.3-9.6A47.12 47.12 0 0 1 221 97.8c0-26 21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 16.7 0 31.4 8.7 39.7 21.8l42.7-27.2A97.63 97.63 0 0 0 268.1 0c-36.5 0-68.3 20.1-85.1 49.7A98 98 0 0 0 97.8 0C43.9 0 0 43.9 0 97.8s43.9 97.8 97.8 97.8c36.5 0 68.3-20.1 85.1-49.7a97.76 97.76 0 0 0 149.6 25.4l19.4 22.2h3v-87.8h-80l24.3 27.5zM97.8 145c-26 0-47.1-21.1-47.1-47.1s21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 47.2 21 47.2 47S123.8 145 97.8 145"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-footer__licence-description" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "Open Government Licence v3.0"}" data-track-links-only> All content is available under the <a class="govuk-footer__link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence v3.0</a>, except where otherwise stated </span> </div> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "© Crown copyright"}" data-track-links-only> <a class="govuk-footer__link govuk-footer__copyright-logo" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/">© Crown copyright</a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/web/20220923120046js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-b97819bdbc2261baa10c3ab196f1063b9a536dc6f571e824d657ebc5a6e69810.js"></script> <script src="/web/20220923120046js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-3cafadb7a7e2b573dec0a5d24fe813cbcedd7f3ca66281600a699c7a944f8dfd.js"></script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs" }, "name": "Universal Credit childcare costs", "datePublished": "2022-06-27T10:49:52.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2022-06-27T10:49:52.000+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/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Department for Work and Pensions", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions" }, "isPartOf": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "CreativeWork", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "CreativeWork", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-information-for-stakeholders-and-partners" } ], "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/childcare-and-early-years" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/universal-credit" } ], "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Universal Credit childcare costs", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/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/20220923120046/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Welfare", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Benefits for families", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220923120046/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM