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Childcare costs

Key information

If you are working, preparing to work or in education, you might get help with childcare costs.

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Age rules: There are no specific age rules

Type of benefit: Depends on the benefit

Taxable: No

Administered by: Depends on the benefit

You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:

In work

If you are working, you may be able to get help with childcare costs through the following sources:

If your employer offers you childcare vouchers, you may want to know if you would be better off having the vouchers or claiming for help with childcare costs through the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit. To check this, you can use the childcare cost calculator (link opens in a new window) on the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website.

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Looking for work

If you are a single parent on a government scheme called the New Deal for Lone Parents, you may be to get help with childcare so that you can do a training course or look for work.

Ask your local JobCentre Plus office (link opens in a new window) for more information.

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Preparing to start a new job

If you are on a government scheme called the New Deal for Lone Parents or the New Deal for Partners, you can get help with childcare costs for the week before you start work to let you and your child get used to the arrangement. 

Ask your local JobCentre Plus office (link opens in a new window) for more information.

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In education

If you are in education, you may be able to get help with childcare costs through the following sources:

  • if you are under 18, you may be able to get help with the costs of childcare if you go back to school
  • if you are a student, you might get extra money to help with childcare costs.

See Benefits for students

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