The Department listens to a range of stakeholders and considers recommendations, such as those from Save the Children\u2019s recent report, that may improve support for our claimants. We have already improved Universal Credit\u2019s (UC) childcare support; for example, our Work Coaches are already providing increased support through the Flexible Support Fund to help eligible claimants who need help with paying upfront childcare costs, as well as allowing greater flexibility in when claimants can report their childcare costs.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> As UC is paid as a single monthly amount directly into people\u2019s bank accounts, it helps families have control over their own budget and making the move into work easier. However, we recognise that childcare costs can affect parents\u2019 decisions to both obtain and maintain employment and we are committed to removing barriers that prevent parents moving into work.<\/p> <\/p> Claimants are able to claim up to 85% of their childcare costs on UC, compared to 70% on the legacy system. This can be worth up to £13,000 a year for families with two children. The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes free childcare hours and tax free childcare and, during 2019/20, a record amount of £6 billion is being spent on childcare support overall. This offer means that reasonable childcare costs should not form a barrier to work.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> We are aware of the difficulty that some claimants might have in paying childcare costs over the summer holidays and our work coaches are able to discuss this with them and explain and promote both the UC childcare offer and the wider government childcare offer. In addition to this, budgeting advances are available for eligible claimants that can be used to cover the cost of paying additional upfront childcare cost or a deposit that might be needed during the school holidays.<\/p>"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the statement in the press release by Save the Children on 3 July 2019, that 30,000 families on universal credit face paying up to £800 in childcare costs this summer.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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