Universal Credit Support for childcare costs and changes to the meaning of relevant childcare

The primary purpose of this briefing is to address entitlement to the Universal Credit childcare element, with specific reference to issues relating to recent changes to the definition of ‘relevant’ (i.e. qualifying) childcare. However, the briefing will also address other sources of support with the costs of childcare for low income families, as well as considering how the relative value of the support available might impact better-off calculations for those claimants.