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Getting Help With Childcare Costs

By: Jennifer Lowe - Updated: 30 Jan 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
Paying For Childcare Childcare Funding

For parents who are not full-time students, and so therefore don't benefit from the Childcare Grant, there are a few different options available to help towards the cost of childcare.

Working Tax Credit

Firstly, working tax credit is designed for people on low incomes. Although this form of funding is available to those who work 16 hours a week and have no children, it is also extended to those who are self-employed and have dependents.If you apply for this funding, the total amount you will receive will depend upon your personal circumstances, including things like you income and the hours you work.

For those with children, there is an extra element of working tax credit that is available for use towards the cost of childcare and can provide up to 70 per cent of £175 for a single child and £300 for two or more.Your can only apply for this if you work a minimum of 16 hours per week and if you are part of a couple, both of you must work at least 16 hours per week.

Child Tax Credits

If you aren't eligible for working tax credit, then child tax credit is another option. This offers families the chance to receive funding, based on their income, to help towards the cost of raising their children.Any family that collectively earns up to £58,000 per year is eligible to claim child tax credit, but you don't have to be working to claim.

This credit will provide financial support until the child's 16th Birthday, although if the child goes on to further education until they are 18 years old, then the credit will continue to be paid to the parents.

New Deal for Lone Parents

If you are a single parent then you should investigate the New Deal for Lone Parents, which was introduced by the government to help those single parents who wish to go back to work. This programme allows parents to learn new skills and gain new training as well as financial help. If you have children then, as part of the New Deal programme, you could be eligible for funding to pay for childcare costs.

There is no reason to think, that as a new parent, your employer can’t offer you any support. You no doubt have worries about work, and if you do go back into employment, you will be planning how you are going to balance you work life with parental responsibilities.

Childcare vouchers were introduced to try and bridge this gap and help parents save money on the cost of childcare when they, if they, return to work.

Childcare Vouchers

This scheme is really simple, the vouchers entitle you as a parent to choose what form of childcare is best suited to both your circumstances and what is best for your child. And, if you can receive up to £55 per week in vouchers tax and National Insurance free.

So, for example, if you are a regular tax payer and you opt to receive £55 per week in childcare vouchers, you will make a saving, per year, of £962 – if you are a higher rate tax payer this saving increases dramatically to £1,195.The savings don’t stop here, as a family both you and your partner are eligible to apply for up to £55 per week in childcare vouchers, potentially doubling the savings you could make.

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I want to child care who haven not parent.
Kiran - 30-Jan-20 @ 7:48 AM
Need help financially with my son What am I entitled too
B.j - 12-May-19 @ 7:05 PM
I have my 16 year-old son living with me in my tiny 1 bedroom flat whilst I'm happy to have my son here I suffer from Depression & panic attacks .plus I have no way of looking after my son financially please advise thank you
B.j - 12-May-19 @ 7:03 PM
We are caring more than 17 disabled children ,We need help for clothes and education materials .Most of them can afford to attend the school due to the lack of food and education materials.Once they get help will attend the school happier .
Father Christmas - 6-Jun-17 @ 8:21 AM
JulieBird - Your Question:
Are there any travel grants available to assist a very gifted choral student aged 8 to to attend classes after school. Her mother is not in a position to fund taxi fares and the local council will only pay for transport from school leaving time to home. The pupil has represented her school at the young voices choir at the O2 and various choir festivals.

Our Response:
There are some grants available in certain areas, but a search engine search would be the best place to find these. You may also want to try the Turn 2 Us Grant Search facility.
GrantsExpert - 28-Aug-15 @ 2:44 PM
Are there any travel grants available to assist a very gifted choral student aged 8 to to attend classes after school. Her mother is not in a position to fund taxi fares and the local council will only pay for transport from school leaving time to home. The pupil has represented her school at the young voices choir at the O2 and various choir festivals.
JulieBird - 28-Aug-15 @ 11:51 AM
We have a disabled child were we need help with extra care as 'hamza' has a rear disorder are we able to get funding of your selfs please
Babz - 4-Jul-13 @ 1:25 PM
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