Child care costs

Who Can Claim a Disregard for Child Care Costs?

The following people could qualify for some or all of their Child Care Costs being disregarded in the calculation of their Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit claim:

• Lone parents who are working
• Couples if they are both working
• Couples if one of them is working and the partner satisfies the conditions for a disability premium or higher pensioner premium
• Couples if the partner is working and the claimant is incapable of working and has been incapable for a period of 28 weeks

What kind of Child Care is disregarded?

• A registered child minder
• A child minding scheme e.g. school or local authority run
• Any other out of school hours scheme provided by a school on school premises or by a local authority. This only applies if the child is aged 8 or over.
• Child Care approved for Tax Credit purposes.

What is the age limit of the Child?

• From birth until the first Monday in September following the child's 15th birthday or
• For a child who meets the conditions for a disabled child the first Monday in September following the child's 16th birthday.

How much is disregarded?

• £135.00 a week where the claimant's family includes only one child for whom the relevant Child Care charges are paid
• £200.00 a week where the claimant's family includes more than one child for whom the relevant child care charges are paid

The amount of your Child Care Costs, up to the maximum limit stated above, may be deducted from your earnings, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. This may help increase the amount of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit that you may be entitled to.

What details do we need in order to disregard the Child Care Costs?

We need proof of the Child Care Costs paid - this needs to be in writing from the Child Care provider. All child minders need to be registered and their child minder registration number included on the letter of confirmation of costs form the child minder.