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<p>No such impact assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>Childcare costs should not
be a barrier to getting into work; this Government is committed to helping parents
into work. Universal Credit pays up to 85% of childcare costs regardless of the hours
worked, compared to 70% in legacy benefits and can be claimed up to a month before
starting a job. In cases where people need to pay for childcare upfront prior to starting
work, Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund for eligible claimants to meet
these costs until their first wage is received.</p><p> </p><p>All three and four year
olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare each week, providing children
with high-quality early education and helping parents to return to work.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally,
30 hours free childcare was introduced in England in September 2017 and is an entitlement
for working parents of three and four year olds. To be eligible, both parents, or
a single parent, must earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/
living wage (for parents aged 23 or over, this would work out at just over £7,400
per year) and less than £100,000 per year<strong>.</strong></p>
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