Childcare

Parents on Universal Credit with high childcare costs will soon be able to claim £100s more in support each month, as the Government is boosting the help available from Wednesday 28 June. In addition, some of those eligible will also be able to get one month's childcare paid for them upfront, instead of having to pay the full cost and getting it reimbursed later.

Eligible parents of children as young as nine months in England are to be offered up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare each week. Meanwhile, parents who get universal credit will see the maximum amount they can claim for childcare costs raised. Both announcements form a package of new measures designed to help parents, revealed by the Chancellor in the Budget.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today announced a range of new tax, benefits and energy measures in his Budget. But, as MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis points out, income tax thresholds will remain frozen – meaning millions will be pulled into paying more tax through a process known as 'fiscal drag'. Below we round up the key announcements and you can also watch Martin's instant reaction.

Over one million families could be missing out on £1,000s per year in Government childcare help, as a new report for HMRC admits that take-up of the Tax-Free Childcare scheme has been lower than anticipated.

Around 22,000 tax-free childcare payments have been delayed by up to eight days, leaving parents at risk of late payment fees from their childcare provider.

Plans to end the Government's Childcare Vouchers scheme will be delayed by six months, ministers have announced.

The Government's Childcare Vouchers scheme – which is operated through employers and allows you to pay for childcare from your pre-tax salary – is closing to new entrants on 5 April. But if you're not already enrolled and want to take advantage, you need to apply NOW to allow enough time for your application to go through payroll.

Parents with children aged between nine and 11 can now apply for the Government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme, meaning its roll-out is complete.

Almost £1 million has had to be paid manually to parents in place of Tax-Free Childcare payments they should have received automatically, since the Government scheme began in April last year.

Parents with children under nine can now apply for the Tax-Free Childcare scheme for ALL of their offspring - but some families with older children will have to wait until February.