Help paying for approved childcare
If you work and pay for registered childcare, you may be entitled to financial support through one of several support schemes.
Approved childcare
You can get help to pay for approved childcare provided by:
- a registered childminder, play scheme, nursery or club
- a school registered to provide childcare
- an approved home childcarer
'Approved' means the childcare setting is registered with and inspected by one of the Health and Social Care Trusts.
Tax-Free childcare
If you're a working parent or self-employed and have children aged 11 or under (or 16 or under if your child has a disability), you may be eligible to open an online childcare account through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme.
You can only get support if your childcare provider is registered with the scheme.
For every £8.00 you pay into your account, the government will top it up with an additional £2.00 - up to £2,000 per child, per year (or £4,000 for children with disabilities).
Eligibility ends on 1 September following your child’s 11th birthday, or 1 September after their 16th birthday if they have a disability.
Parents eligible for Tax-Free Childcare
To get Tax-Free Childcare, you and your partner must be:
- working or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
- you and your partner, if you have one, must each expect to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week
Parents not eligible for Tax-Free Childcare
You can't get Tax-Free Childcare if you or your partner earn over £100, 000 or more in a year. You can’t use Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as:
- Universal Credit
- childcare vouchers
Childcare vouchers
Childcare voucher schemes closed to new people on 4 October 2018. If you were in the scheme before this date and your employer continues the scheme, you can keep getting the vouchers.
Universal Credit does not help towards any childcare cost payments made using childcare vouchers. If childcare costs are more than the value of the vouchers, claimants can apply for Universal Credit help towards the additional amount.
Applying for Tax-Free Childcare
To apply online for Tax-Free Childcare, go to:
Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme
The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) aims to reduce the childcare costs of eligible working parents by 15 per cent for all qualifying children.
Parents must be claiming Tax-Free Childcare to receive the new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy. Universal Credit claimants are not eligible for help with childcare costs under the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.
Check what support you’re entitled to
If you are unsure which support applies to you, you can contact the Make the Call Service.