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<p>The Department for Work and Pensions has not undertaken a specific assessment of
the affordability and adequacy of provision of childcare for parents subject to the
benefit cap. As part of its evaluation of the benefit cap policy, we have commissioned
the National Centre for Social Research to conduct a survey of capped households to
assess the effects of the cap on claimants’ behaviours toward employment and the drivers
behind different responses to the cap, which will include childcare availability and
costs. We anticipate publishing the findings in the Autumn.</p><p> </p><p>The department
recognises that high childcare costs can be a real barrier to parents taking up employment
or increasing their working hours. To help overcome this, Universal Credit is more
generous than legacy benefits in the support it provides towards childcare costs,
with an increased level of support for childcare costs from 70% in legacy to up to
85% in Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, significant work has been undertaken
within the department to raise awareness and understanding of the UC Childcare Offer
amongst work coaches and work continues across Government to support take up of the
different childcare offers, ensuring information is readily accessible for parents,
providers and employers, including via digital channels. The Government now provides
more support than ever before to help parents with the costs of childcare and will
be spending a record amount of around £6 billion on childcare support in 2019-20.</p>
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