Universal credit childcare support: how to claim

Claiming universal credit

Universal credit claims are normally made online. If you cannot make an online claim then you can telephone the DWP. You can find out more about claiming universal credit in our universal credit section.

How to claim childcare costs

Childcare costs can be included in your universal credit claim providing you notify DWP of any costs incurred within the relevant time limit (see below) and those costs are attributable to your assessment period.

You should tell DWP about your childcare costs via your universal credit online journal. You will also need to provide proof of costs such as invoices and receipts from your childcare provider – your work coach should tell you how to do this.

Time-limits for notifying childcare costs

From June 2023, universal credit claimants with childcare costs have been able to claim these upfront when moving into work or increasing their hours.

Since 16 October 2019, you need to notify DWP about your childcare costs by the end of the assessment period following the assessment period in which you paid them.

DWP have said that if you pay for your costs in assessment period 1 (AP1) but report them in AP2, and also report and pay for further costs (occurring in AP2) in AP2 – depending on what the period covered is, the universal credit childcare element covering costs for AP1 will be paid through an ad-hoc payment if the AP1 award payment has already been made. The costs occurring in the separate assessment periods are not added together for the purposes of reaching the childcare element cap.

Late notification of childcare costs

It may be possible to be paid for childcare costs that are reported late if DWP accept that there were special circumstances that led to the delay.