28/04/2017
Working parents of children aged under 4 on 31 August and parents of disabled children under 17 years can now start applying through the new digital childcare service for two new government childcare schemes
- tax free childcare, which commenced on 21 April
- 30-hours free childcare, which starts in September for parents of 2-3 year olds
Under Tax Free Childcare, eligible families are entitled to a 20% rebate on the annual cost of childcare up to £10,000, with the government paying a £20 ‘top-up’ for every £80 they pay to an approved childcare provider who is registered to receive tax free childcare payments.
The scheme will be available to all eligible parents of children under 12 years old and disabled children under 17 by the end of 2017.
From September, working parents of 3 and 4 year olds living in England will also be entitled to 30 hours free childcare, which is worth around £5,000 per child.
‘Childcare Choices’ provides online, interactive information from HM Revenue & Customs on eligibility for the two new childcare cost support schemes, plus
- tax credits for childcare
- universal credits for childcare
- childcare vouchers
• support while studying