Childcare funding will be paid upfront to poorer working parents in win for The Sun’s campaign
CHILDCARE costs will finally be paid upfront for working Brits on Universal Credit in a huge win for our Sun campaign.
From 28 June the government will help cough up the costs for the first month of childcare cash when people enter work or beef up their hours – breaking down a huge barrier to getting back to work for millions of people.
In a huge win for The Sun’s Make Universal Credit Work campaign, it means they won’t have to pay hundreds of pounds only to claim it back later.
Ministers hope it will get some of the five million out of work Brits back earning and help wean them off state support.
Meanwhile, the amount that parents will be able to claim back for their childcare costs is set to get a huge boost – rising to £1,630 for two or more kids – up 26 per cent.
The current rates are just £646 for one kid, or £1,108 for two of more, but got a budget boost from Jeremy Hunt in March.
And the Department for Education are launching plans to try and get more childminders into the business too.
They will consult on whether to scrap requirements for GCSE maths and level 3 childcare qualifications for people to become a childminder.
And they will also look at creating a new route for people who are already look after kids on a casual basis to be able to qualify formally without doing strict courses.
But parents of working two-year-olds will still have to wait until next April until their free 15 hours of childcare kicks in – rising to 30 hours from September 2025.
Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “These changes will help thousands of parents progress their career without compromising the quality of the care that their children receive.
“By helping more parents to re-enter and progress in work, we will be able to cut inactivity and help grow the economy.”