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<p>Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront
childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting
work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers
and is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Deposit
– To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.</li><li>Retainer
– To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery provision prior
to the parent starting work or training.</li><li>Fees – To pay a provider upfront
childcare fees in advance of the service being delivered; and</li><li>Taster/Settling
in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable the parent to prepare
their child before taking up the full childcare offer.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Once a
claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the flexibility
to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs where required
and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school holidays, change of
childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase work hours. Budgeting
Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these childcare costs can be
reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a paid receipt is submitted.</p>
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