Child Care Charges for Working Tax Credit and Housing BenefitExtra help for working families with childcare costs can be included in the following benefits:
Who can apply for the extra help?You may apply if you are a Lone parent who works 16 hours or more a week.
You may also apply if you are a couple and both of you are working 16 hours or more a week.
The childcare charges must be paid for a child or children of a qualifying age.
For Housing Benefit the qualifying age is from birth up to, but not including, the first Monday in the September following the child's 15th birthday. This is extended to the 16th birthday for children who are in receipt of DLA, are registered blind or have been taken off the blind register in the last 28 weeks.
What types of childcare count?Childminders, nurseries or play schemes registered with the Health and Social Services Board; or
Out-of-hours clubs on school premises, run by the school, or
Childcare schemes run on Government property (these are exempt from the requirement to be registered).
Childcare provided by a relative or friend who is registered with the relevant Health Board as a Childminder.
How much help can be given?For Housing Benefit earnings can be reduced by up to £135.00 a week if you pay certain child care charges for one child of the qualifying age. Earnings can be reduced by up to £200.00 if you pay these charges for 2 or more children.
If weekly charges vary:
- for children under school age, an average is taken of the amounts paid over the last 4 weeks;
- for children of school age, an average is taken of the amounts paid over the 4 most recent weeks of term time and the 2 most recent weeks of school holidays.
If the child has just started with a new childminder or nursery, you will be asked to provide an estimate of the weekly charges.
When calculating Housing Benefit, the amount payable depends on how much money you have coming in each week. Up to £175.00 for one child or £300.00 for two or more children can be deducted each week from earnings for the cost of childcare. The lower earnings are then used to calculate your Housing Benefit.
Claim forms for Housing Benefit ask for information about childcare charges.
Contact your local Northern Ireland Housing Executive office or Rates Collection Agency who can provide information about the help in Housing Benefit.
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