How to apply

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You usually report your childcare costs in your online Universal Credit account. You can do this when you first make a claim, or at any point in your claim.

You need to:

  • provide proof of which childcare provider you use.  This must be with Ofsted ‘registered’ childcare providers.
  • tell Universal Credit the dates of childcare you paid for, how much you paid and the date you made the payment
  • provide proof of payment

Report your childcare costs as soon as possible after paying them. If you leave it for longer than 2 assessment periods, you might not get the money back.

Evidence for your childcare costs

You will need to have proof of your childcare provider and payments.

As proof of your provider, you need a contract, invoice or letter from them showing all of these:

  • their name, registration number, address and phone number
  • the names of your children that they look after
  • the type of childcare, for example after-school or nursery care

You only need to do this once per provider.

We might also ask to see proof of your payment showing:

  • the dates of childcare you paid for
  • how much you paid
  • the date you made the payment

You can provide a paid invoice showing all of this, or a combination of:

  • bank statements
  • receipts from the provider
  • invoices from the provider

Upfront Childcare Costs

You may be able to get help if you have to pay upfront childcare costs and one of the following applies:

  • you’re starting work;
  • you’re increasing the hours you work, for example you’ve moved from part-time work to full-time work

Use your online account or contact your work coach at Jobcentre Plus. If eligible, the payment will be made directly to your provider. You will not have to pay the money back.

You can then claim up to 85% of those childcare costs to be paid with your Universal Credit. That could give you money towards the next month’s childcare costs.

 

Create a Universal Credit account

 

If you need more help you can: