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<p>No assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is aware that for some
UC claimants' childcare costs presents challenges to entering employment. To support
parents to become financially resilient by moving into work and progressing in work,
eligible UC claimants can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs
each month regardless of the number of hours they work, compared to 70% in Tax Credits.
This is up to the maximum amount of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04
per month for two or more children. For families with two children, this could be
worth over £13,000 a year.</p><p> </p><p>This support is available to all lone parents
and couples, regardless of the number of hours they work. For couples, both parents
need to be in paid work to be eligible unless one of the allowable exceptions is met.</p><p>
</p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer in
England and there are similar funded early learning offers in devolved nations. The
Free Childcare offer provides 15 hours a week of free childcare in England for all
3- and 4-year old's and disadvantaged 2-year old's, doubling for working parents of
3 and 4 year old's to 30 hours a week.</p><p>The UC childcare element can be used
to top up a claimant's eligible free childcare hours if more hours are worked and
childcare required. This offer means that for some claimants' childcare costs should
not present any barriers to entering work.</p><p>UC claimants who need help with upfront
childcare costs to enter employment or significantly increase their working hours
can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund (FSF). This is non-repayable and
will pay their initial childcare costs directly to the provider up to the first salary
received.</p><p> </p><p>Through a staged rollout from April 2022 onwards, 2.1m low
paid Universal Credit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into higher
paid work. This will be provided by work coaches and focus on career progression advice,
such as considering skills gaps, identifying training opportunities, or looking for
opportunities for the claimant to progress in their current role or in a new role.
Jobcentres will be supported in this new role by a network of 37 Progression Champions
across Great Britain who will spearhead the scheme. They will work with partners to
address local barriers that limit progression, such as transport and childcare.</p>
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