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<p>The Government recently submitted its response to the Work and Pensions Select
Committee’s follow-up report into Universal Credit: Childcare which sets out an assessment
of the position in relation to payments direct to childcare providers. The response
will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is paid in a single
monthly amount directly into people’s bank accounts, giving them control over their
own money and making the move into work easier.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed
to supporting parents with moving into work and, as part of this, we have increased
the level of support for childcare costs from 70 per cent in legacy benefits to up
to 85 per cent in Universal Credit. The Universal Credit childcare policy aligns with
the wider government childcare offer, which includes free childcare hours and tax
free childcare. This offer means that reasonable childcare costs should not form a
barrier to work.</p><p> </p><p>Where upfront childcare costs or deposits may prevent
a claimant from starting work, jobcentres will use the Flexible Support Fund to support
the transition into work. When parents have good reason for late reporting of their
childcare costs, the Department is piloting a more flexible approach to enable parents
to be reimbursed at a later point.</p><p> </p><p>Since February 2018, Universal Credit
claimants have been able to upload digital copies of their childcare cost receipts
or invoices through their online Universal Credit account.</p>
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