Paying for Childcare

Whether you are working full or part time, a lone parent or a student, you may be eligible for help with your childcare costs.

Help for Working Parents

If you are a working parent, you could be entitled to money from the government to help you pay for childcare. There is a new form of financial help called the Working Tax Credit, for low to middle income families, with extra help for childcare called the childcare tax credit element.

Working Tax Credit is for people who:

• are employed or self-employed (either on their own or in a partnership)
• who usually work 16 hours or more a week are paid for that work
• and expect to work for at least 4 weeks

 

And who are:

• aged 16 or over and responsible for at least one child, or
• aged 16 or over and disabled, or
• aged 25 or over and usually work at least 30 hours a week.

 

What about help with childcare?

If you spend money on childcare while you work and you qualify for the Working Tax Credit, you could be entitled to help with the costs of the childcare. This is called the childcare tax credit element.

Help for working parents document 

Help for Lone Parents

If you are a lone parent bringing up a child and you are receiving Income Support, you could join New Deal for Lone Parents.   This is a Government programme designed specifically to help lone parents who want to work. You can arrange to see your New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Adviser for advice and information.

Help for lone parents document 

Help from your Employer

If you are working, ask your employer about childcare help they could offer. There are some good reasons why more and more employers are looking at their employees' childcare    needs and trying to find ways to help.

Employers rely upon parents as part of their work force and they need you to be able to concentrate on your work without worrying about your children while you are there. Parents with safe, secure, high quality childcare arrangements that they can afford are:

• less likely to be worrying about their children while they work
• more likely to come back to work after maternity leave
• more likely to stay in work as their children grow up.

The Government's National Childcare Strategies for Scotland and England encourage employers to get involved in childcare and help their employees out.

Help from your employer document 

Help for Students

If you are a parent who wants to study or train, you may be able to get help paying for childcare while you study.

The Government has increased funds to contribute to the childcare costs of more students and trainees and is considering other ways to make sure parents are able to study or train.

Ask your student welfare adviser to tell you what your childcare options are and what your college or university does to help students who are parents.

Help for students document