DWP confirms date Universal Credit claimants can get extra £500 childcare boost

Universal Credit claimants will be able to claim more money back from the Government to cover their childcare costs, from June 28.

The amount a person can claim is increasing by 47 percent, from up to £646 for one child to £951, and from up to £1,108 for two children or more to £1,630.

This means those who are eligible for the help will be able to claim an extra £522 a month. Claimants can be reimbursed for up to 85 percent of their childcare costs.

The claimant will usually need to be working, as will their partner if they live with them, or they must have a job offer, to claim the support.

Some people who are eligible for the funds may also be able to get a month’s childcare paid upfront instead of having to pay for the childcare and be reimbursed later.

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Claire Coutinho, minister for children, families and wellbeing said: “Childcare shouldn’t be a barrier to work, but the expense has previously meant parents have had to choose between working or looking after their child.

“We are supporting families with the largest ever expansion of free childcare, making sure that places will be available for parents who need them. This will save a working parent using 30 hours a week an average of £6,500.

“We have already announced plans to boost the amount the Government pays childcare providers, and now we’re knocking down barriers to recruiting and retaining the talented staff that provide such wonderful care for our children.”

The Government is also extending free childcare to cover children under the age of five, of eligible working age parents.

The payments will be mostly going out between June 20 and July 4, with a small number to be paid after this.

People on these benefits may be eligible for the support:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement.

A person can check what benefits they are entitled to using a benefits calculator. There are several available online such as the one on the Turn2us website.

Britons on low incomes may want to check if they can claim any other support as many household bills increased in April, including energy and water bills, and council tax.

A typical household currently pays on average £2,500 a year for energy bills, with the amount capped by the Government’s energy price guarantee.

Bills are set to go down from the start of July as the Ofgem price cap decreases, with bills to fall to £2,074 a year.

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