Financial Support for Parents
Financial help is available from a variety of
sources to assist you and your family with childcare costs. Many
families are entitled to financial help but are not aware how to
claim it or that they are eligible. Below we have listed some
of the help that is available:
Free Early Education and Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to free part-time
early education from the term after their 3rd birthday
until the term in which they turn 5. Your child can receive a
maximum of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year.
For more information
contact:
Bedford Borough Early Years
01234 228095
Free Early Education and Childcare for 2 year olds
Some 2 year olds may be entitled to up to 12.5 hours
per week of free early education and childcare if their family is
in receipt of certain income based benefits.
For more information
contact:
Bedford Borough Family Information Service
0800 023 2057
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit is means tested and
available to people who are employed or self-employed. If you're
single you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours per week. If
you're in a couple your joint paid working hours need to be at
least 24 hours a week, with one of you working at least 16
hours a week.
For more information
contact:
HM Revenue & Customs
0845 300 3900
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is for people who are responsible for at least
one child under 16 yrs or a young person under 19 yrs in full-time
non advanced education. You do not have to be working to claim this
credit. If your child receives Disability Living Allowance or
is registered blind or had been so in the last 29 weeks you may
receive a higher amount of Child Tax Credits.
For more information
contact:
HM Revenue & Customs
0845 300 3900
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Employers Support Towards Childcare
Employers can help towards childcare costs in
a number of ways:
- Childcare Vouchers – Each working parent is
entitled to £55 per week (£28 for higher rate tax payers or
£22 for additional rate tax payers) for registered or approved
childcare costs. This amount will be deducted from your salary
and you won’t pay tax or national insurance on it.
- Childcare subsidies – This is where the
employer provides financial assistance towards childcare costs in
addition to your salary.
- Workplace provision – The employer is
responsible for financing and managing a childcare provision on or
off work premise.
For more information
contact:
Your employer or HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/childcare
Help with childcare costs whilst learning
Get advice about applying for help with
childcare costs, grants and residential support while you’re
learning.
For more information
contact:
Learner Support Helpline
0800 121 8989
www.gov.uk/learner-support-helpline
Care to Learn
Care to Learn aims to give financial support
to teenage parents who want to continue their education or training
and need help with the cost of their childcare. This is available
to young parents under 19 years old.
For more information
contact:
Learner Support Helpline
0800 121 8989
www.gov.uk/care-to-learn