Childcare costs

The childcare costs may be taken off your earnings, working tax credit or child tax credit when we calculate your overall benefit. This may increase the total benefit you are entitled to.

Who can claim childcare costs

Single parents can claim if either of the below apply: 

• you work 16 hours or more a week 

• you’re on maternity leave and receiving statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance 

Couples can claim if any of the below apply: 

• both of you work 16 hours or more a week 

• one of you works 16 hours or more a week and the other is disabled, blind or receiving other benefits 

• one of you works 16 hours or more a week and the other is on maternity leave and receiving statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance 

Qualifying childcare costs

Your child must be under 15 years old or under 16 if they are disabled. 

Their care must be provided by one of these: 

• a registered childminder 

• a registered nursery or play scheme 

• an out of hours scheme run by an approved provider - the out of hours scheme can tell you if they are approved 

• an out of hours scheme provided by a school on school premises or by a local authority - this usually only applies if the child is 8 or over 

• a childcare scheme on Crown property (property owned by Her Majesty or a government department) where registration is not required 

• an organisation accredited by the Secretary of State under the tax credit regulations 

Qualifying amounts

The maximum we will disregard from your income is: 

• £175 a week for one child 

• £300 a week for 2 or more children 

Report your childcare costs to us online

Select the button below and then Report a change of circumstances and follow the onscreen instructions.

Tell us your childcare costs 

Alternatively, you can use our other online form.