PEOPLE are only just realising a huge change to Universal Credit has been is late.
Parents eagerly awaiting an increase to childcare payments have been left confused after the boost appeared to be late.
AlamyPeople are only just realising a huge change to Universal Credit has been is late.[/caption]
From last week 120,000 families on Universal Credit who are eligible for childcare payments got the rise.
The amount of cash parents can claim went up from £646 to £951 for one child, and from £1,108 to £1,630 for two – an increase of £522.
The new rates will help cover rising nursery and childminder fees.
But most people won’t have received the payment straight away leaving them questioning when they’ll get the boost.
Taking to social media one shared the news and wrote: “I’m sorry to be one of those people.
“But will this reflect in my next statement if I’ve already got this months statement?
“Due to be paid tomorrow and it’s no different than previous months. I didn’t even know about the raise!”
Another said: “Does anybody no anything about the childcare cost increase?
“I want to work extra in work can’t afford the nursery fees yet the Gov website saying they’re getting upped to £951 a month from June 28 yet when I asked UC they said they only pay up to £646 and have no date of it getting upped?”
It’s important to note that while the new rates come into force from June 28, most won’t see their payments rise until August.
This is down to when their Universal Credit assessment periods started due to the benefit being paid in arrears.
If your assessment period started before June 28, you may see the increase in the middle or end of August.
But if your assessment period started after June 28, you may see the increase at the beginning of August.
You can check your assessment period by logging into your Universal Credit account.
Although, all eligible parents should benefit from the payment increase in their first payment date after June 28.
If you’re not sure when you’ll get it speak to your work coach and they’ll be able to shed some light on it.
It comes as some parents can also now ask for their payments to be paid upfront too.
What other childcare help is available?
There are a range of tax breaks and grants to help make childcare more affordable.
You can usually use them for care like registered childminders, nannies, playschemes, nurseries, and holiday clubs.
It’s always worth checking the government’s handy childcare costs calculator to find out which scheme will save you the most money, as not all of them can be used at the same time.
Free childcare for two-year-olds
Parents living in England and claiming any of the following benefits can access some free childcare for their two-year-olds:
Income supportIncome-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)Universal Credit (where household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments)Tax credits (where household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax)Pension Credit (guaranteed element)
Two-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:
Are looked after by a local authorityHave an education, health and care (EHC) planGet disability living allowanceHave left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.
Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.
15 or 30 hours of free childcare
All three to four-year-old children in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare – amounting to 570 hours per year – from the term after their third birthday.
The free allowance is usually taken as 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, but it is possible to take it at a time that suits you.
The free early education and childcare must be with an approved childcare provider and stops when your child starts school.
Working parents may be eligible to get up to 30 hours of free childcare if they are working at least 16 hours a week on average and earning the National Minimum Wage or more.
Check out what you could get and apply online at Gov.UK.
Tax-free childcare
If you don’t qualify for Universal Credit you may qualify for tax-free childcare.
You can get up to £500 every three months – up to a maximum of £2,000 a year – for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.
If your child is disabled, it’s even more – £1,000 every three months, up to £4,000 per year.
To receive the tax-free benefit you need to create an online childcare account.
For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will add £2 which you can use to pay your approved provider.
Child benefit
You can get child benefit if you’re responsible for a child aged under 16, or if they are under 20 and in approved education or training.
Child benefit is currently worth £24 a week for the eldest child or only child, adding up to £1,248 a year.
For each subsequent child, parents get £15.90 a week – or £826.80 a year.
The free money is paid every four weeks, and there’s no limit to how many children you can apply for – though only one person can claim for each child.
But do note that those who earn more than £50,000 a year may need to pay back some of their child benefit in tax.
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