Once you have found and chosen a quality childcare provider, the next step is to look at what assistance is available to help you pay for your childcare.
There are several different schemes available to help parents/carers pay their childcare costs depending on their individual family circumstances. Details of some of these schemes are given below, but for more information about which schemes you might be eligible for, please contact Kids Lincs on 01724 296629.
Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and the childcare element
If you are over 16-years-old, you are resident in the UK, your income is less than £58,175 a year and you have a child under the age of 16 or over the age of 16 but in full-time further education you may be entitled to Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit. The amount you are entitled to will depend on your family's income and how many children you have.
Also, if you pay for childcare with a registered childcare provider you may be entitled to the childcare element of tax credits.
The childcare element of Child Tax Credit could see up to 80 per cent of your childcare fees paid for, up to a set maximum.
To check if you are eligible for Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit please call the tax credit helpline on 0845 3003900. You can also check your eligibility and how much you might be entitled to by visiting the revenue and customs website and use their tax credit calculator.
To claim the childcare element of tax credits you will need to provide the advisor with the Ofsted registration number of your chosen childcare provider and an estimation of your annual childcare costs. If you will need extra childcare during school holidays for example, don't forget to add the extra cost into your annual calculation.
New deal
If you are a lone parent bringing up a child and wanting to go out to work, you may be entitled to help with your childcare costs through the Jobcentre's "New Deal" programme.
For more information contact the Lone Parent Advisor at your local Jobcentreplus office or visit the jobcentre website.
Flexible free entitlement for three and four-year-olds
All three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of free early learning and care (free entitlement) for 38 weeks of the year regardless of the family's employment or financial situation.
- Children become eligible for the funding the school term after their third birthday:
- Children born between 1 April and 31 August will be eligible from 1 September
- Children born between 1 September and 31 December will be entitled as from 1 January
- Children born between 1 January and 31 March will be entitled as from 1 April
The free entitlement is available at private day nurseries, pre-schools or playgroups, children's centres where day care is available, with accredited childminders or at school nurseries.
Whichever type of setting you choose your child's early learning is nurtured through play, tailored to their individual needs to enable them to develop at their own pace.
There is no catch the 15 hours of early learning and care is free of charge. The setting will receive a grant from North Lincolnshire Council.
Visit your preferred setting and check that it is right for your child and your family - it is for you to decide. Please contact us.
For some families it may be appropriate to discuss splitting your entitlement between two settings.
You are not required to pay any fees for your child's free entitlement. However, if you wish many child carer's are open more hours and you can purchase additional hours to meet your work or training commitments.
Support with childcare costs for students
There are several schemes available to assist students with the cost of paying for childcare whilst they study. They could be a young parent, an adult learner, full-time or part-time or studying or training for a return to work.
Care 2 Learn
Parents under the age of 20 can apply for help with their childcare costs through the Care to Learn scheme. You could be entitled to up to £160 per week per child and this includes help with extra travel costs incurred when travelling to and from the childcare setting.
Sixth form college childcare scheme
This scheme can pay up to £160 per child per week towards childcare costs for student's aged 20 or over and who are working full or part-time at a school Sixth Form College.
Free childcare for training and learning for work - From April 2009 their will be help with childcare costs available through a new scheme for people in training to help them get into work. To be eligible for this scheme:
- Your partner must be employed for at least 16 hours a week
- Your household income is less than £20,000 a year
- You are over 20-years-old
- You are looking to access learning or training on route to employment
Childcare grant
Full-time under-graduate students can apply for a childcare grant, which could pay for 85 per cent of their childcare costs up to a maximum of £148.75 per week for one child and £255 for two or more children. The grant can be applied for through the Students Loan Company and it does not need to be re-paid.
For more information about the different schemes available to help students meet their childcare costs, please either contact the Student Support Advisor at your local college or training provider or call the Learner Support Service on 0800 1218989.
Employer childcare voucher schemes
Many employers offer childcare voucher schemes to their employees to pay for registered childcare that may or may not be work-based.
The childcare vouchers may be given to the employee on top of their salary or as part of a "salary sacrifice" scheme. A "salary sacrifice" scheme requires the employee to give up a part of their salary in exchange for the voucher. The advantage for the employee is that the sacrificed salary is not subject to tax or National Insurance payments.
You should speak to your employer to ask if they run a childcare voucher scheme.
Help with childcare for disabled children
As well as the general schemes outlined above that are open to all parents; the parents of children with disabilities or Special Educational Needs may be entitled to other sources of financial help to cover their childcare costs.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- the "Care" component of DLA can be claimed when a child is threemonths old if they require extra care and supervision due to a physical and/or mental disability. The "mobility" component can be claimed when the child reaches three-years-old. For more information and a claim pack please contact the Benefits enquiry helpline on 0800 882200
- Disabled Child Element of Child Tax Credit
- If you have a child who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you can claim the Disabled Child Element of Child Tax Credit. For more information contact the Tax Credits helpline on 0800 3003900
- Direct Payments
- if you have a child with a disability you can apply to your local Social Services department for Direct Payments. This means you have more choice and control over the care your child receives. Direct Payments can allow you to shape your own childcare package to meet you and your child's needs.
For more information on Direct Payments you can contact North Lincolnshire Council's Children's Social Services team on 01724 296500.
Other help available
There may be other schemes available to help you meet the costs of your childcare so do contact Kids Lincs on 01724 296629 for more information.