UK Government Boosts Childcare Support for Universal Credit Parents

The UK government has announced that parents on Universal Credit will be able to claim back more money to cover childcare costs, with the maximum amount rising by 47%.

From June, eligible parents will be able to claim up to £951 per month for one child and £1,630 per month for two or more children.

The government will also provide funding upfront for parents' first month of childcare costs when they enter work or increase their hours.

The changes to Universal Credit are part of the 2023 Budget and will be phased in for households earning less than £100,000 per year.

The cost of childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world, with full-time nursery care for a child under two costing over £14,000 in England.

The government has also launched a consultation on increasing the early years' workforce and a recruitment campaign is planned for early next year.