If you're going back to work and you've got children, you can get financial and practical help with childcare. From tax credits to flexible working arrangements and assistance with childcare costs, there's lots of support available to make your life easier.
Funded pre-school education is available in nursery schools, primary schools with nursery classes and some voluntary and private playgroups and day nurseries.
It is designed for children in the year immediately before they enter Primary 1. For September 2010 that means children who reach their 3rd birthday on or before 1 July 2010.
Free places are available for over 90% of children in their immediate pre-school year. All parents of children who will be entering their immediate pre-school year in September 2010 are encouraged to apply.
Most places are available for at least 2½ hours per day, 5 days per week for at least 38 weeks during the period September to June.
Information about pre-school education and free places in your area is available from your local Education and Library Board.
Child Tax Credit is an income-related allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. Nine out of ten families with children qualify for Child Tax Credit.
If you're working more than 16 hours a week and you're on a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit too.
The Working Tax Credit includes a specific element to support the cost of registered or approved childcare for working parents. The childcare element can help with up to 80 per cent of your eligible childcare costs.
There are limits on the weekly costs you can claim. If you pay childcare for:
To find out if you are eligible for Tax Credits, contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).
If you're a working parent, you can take up to 13 weeks parental leave for each child until their fifth birthday (you get more than this if you have a disabled child). Your employer doesn't have to pay you when you take this leave, but they might as part of your employment package.
Flexible working lets you ask your employer for a new working pattern to help you care for your child. You have a right to request a flexible working pattern if you've got a child aged under six or a disabled child under 18. Your employer has to consider your request seriously.
To have the right to ask for flexible working, you must:
Job Grant is a one-off tax free payment you may get when you start working for at least 16 hours a week and stop getting benefits.
You may be entitled to Job Grant if you start work for at least 16 hours a week, you do not have a partner working 16 hours or more per week and you expect your work to last for at least five weeks.
You must also have been claiming one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks before starting your new job:
You can find out more on Job Grant by following the link below:
Many employers now offer their employees help to pay for childcare, this can include:
Should your employer offer any of the above, you will be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on whatever aid is given. There are other types of childcare support your employer could provide however, without you having to pay tax or national insurance contributions. These are:
For more information on the different types of help you could get from your employer, download the leaflet below.
Are you a lone parent or the partner of a benefit claimant and looking for work? Extra money to help with your childcare costs is now available to make it easier for you to take part in Steps to Work and find a job.
Parents
