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<p>DWP continues to continuously improve the Universal Credit experience for claimants
and to ensure that they are supported throughout their journey. For those with children,
this includes ensuring that help with up front childcare costs is available for Universal
Credit households with a low income.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants with a firm job offer
can claim Universal Credit Childcare costs up to 1 month prior to starting work to
enable their children to settle into a new routine. We also offer extra support to
enable parents to pay upfront childcare costs or deposits: for example, claimants
may be eligible to receive an advance of their future Universal Credit entitlement,
which is interest free. Work coaches and claimants work together to ensure that, where
this is taken up, repayments are affordable and manageable.</p><p> </p><p>If a budgeting
advance is not appropriate, the Flexible Support Fund may also provide assistance.
Payments from this fund are non-repayable, and are managed locally to provide tailored
and targeted support for claimants to move into work.</p><p> </p><p>From 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:
most claimants reporting their in-month childcare costs are not asked to provide further
evidence.</p><p> </p>
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