Universal Credit Childcare Calculator
Estimate how much of your registered childcare bill Universal Credit may reimburse, see the current monthly cap and plan the amount you may need to pay yourself.
Calculate Childcare SupportEstimate Your Reimbursement
Calculate up to 85% of eligible childcare costs, subject to the current monthly maximum.
Start CalculatorCheck The Main Rules
Review work, partner, child-age, registered-provider and reporting requirements.
Eligibility GuidePlan Upfront Payments
See how paying first, reporting promptly and asking for upfront help can affect cash flow.
Plan Your BudgetCalculate Your Universal Credit Childcare Estimate
Enter the childcare amount you paid during one Universal Credit assessment period. This tool estimates the reimbursable amount, applies the relevant monthly cap and shows your likely remaining childcare cost.
Your Childcare Details
Use the amount actually paid to a registered or approved childcare provider for childcare that enables you to work.
Your Estimate Will Appear Here
Enter your paid childcare costs and select calculate to see the estimated reimbursement, monthly limit and amount left for you to cover.
Your Childcare Support Estimate
Key Universal Credit Childcare Figures
These headline figures are useful for planning, but your actual payment depends on eligible costs, timing, evidence and your wider Universal Credit award.
Explore Childcare Support And Planning Tools
Compare childcare costs, check free-hours support and understand other routes that may help your family budget.
How The Universal Credit Childcare Element Works
Universal Credit childcare support is generally reimbursement-based. You normally pay your childcare provider first, report the payment through your Universal Credit account and provide evidence if requested.
The calculator applies 85% to the eligible cost you personally paid, then compares that figure with the current maximum for one child or two or more children.
- Use registered or otherwise approved childcare.
- Report childcare costs as soon as you pay them.
- Keep invoices, receipts, contracts and bank evidence.
- Check whether both partners need to be working.
- Ask your work coach about help with upfront costs when starting work or increasing hours.
Who May Qualify For Universal Credit Childcare Costs?
You generally need to be in paid work or due to start a paid job within the next month. There is no fixed minimum number of working hours. If you claim as a couple, both partners normally need to be working unless the non-working partner cannot look after the children because of a qualifying reason.
The childcare must be connected with work and must usually be provided by a registered or approved provider. Eligible provision can include nurseries, registered childminders, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and holiday clubs.
Working Or Starting Work
You may qualify while already in paid work or when starting a job soon. Voluntary work paid only through expenses does not normally count.
Couples
Both partners usually need to meet the work condition unless one partner cannot provide childcare because of disability, health or another accepted circumstance.
Approved Childcare
The provider needs to meet the registration or approval requirements that apply in your nation of the UK.
Child Age
Costs may be claimed for children you are responsible for until 31 August after their 16th birthday, subject to all other conditions.
What Childcare Costs Can Be Included?
Use the amount paid for childcare that allows you to work, travel to work or maintain a reasonable work pattern. Depending on your circumstances, this can include nursery sessions, childminder fees, wraparound care and school-holiday provision.
Do not automatically include meals, nappies, optional activities, late-payment fees, deposits or other extras. Ask Universal Credit or your work coach how a particular charge should be treated if it is not clearly a childcare fee.
Evidence You May Need
- A childcare contract, invoice or provider letter showing the provider’s details and registration information.
- The names of the children receiving care and the type of childcare supplied.
- Receipts, paid invoices or bank statements showing the amount and date paid.
- The dates or assessment periods to which the childcare relates.
Help With Upfront Childcare Costs
Universal Credit childcare support usually works after you pay the provider. This can be difficult when a nursery, childminder or club requires payment before your first wage arrives.
You may be able to ask for help with upfront childcare when you are starting work or increasing your working hours. Support may also be available for a deposit or retainer. Official guidance says this help does not normally need to be repaid.
Example Of How The Calculator Applies The Cap
| Scenario | Eligible Cost Paid | 85% Calculation | Estimated UC Childcare Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Child | £800 | £680 | £680 |
| One Child Above The Cap | £1,500 | £1,275 | £1,071.09 maximum |
| Two Or More Children | £1,600 | £1,360 | £1,360 |
| Two Or More Children Above The Cap | £2,500 | £2,125 | £1,836.16 maximum |
When And How To Report Childcare Costs
Report childcare costs through your online Universal Credit account as soon as you have paid them. Current guidance says you should normally report the cost in the assessment period in which you paid it or in the following assessment period.
If you pay eligible future childcare costs upfront, you may be able to report up to three assessment periods of those costs at once, including the period in which you paid. Universal Credit then allocates reimbursement across the periods to which the childcare relates rather than paying the full amount as one lump sum.
Universal Credit And Other Childcare Schemes
You cannot receive Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit. However, funded early education or working-parent free childcare hours may still reduce the private childcare bill on which your Universal Credit childcare reimbursement is calculated.
Compare the full effect of each scheme before changing claims. Closing Universal Credit solely to use Tax-Free Childcare may affect housing, child, disability or other Universal Credit elements as well as childcare help.
Related Childcare Guides
Use these guides to compare support and create a more complete childcare budget.
Universal Credit Childcare Eligibility
Understand work requirements, couple rules, approved childcare and evidence.
Read Eligibility GuideHelp With Upfront Childcare Costs
Learn what to ask for when starting work or increasing working hours.
Read Upfront Cost Guide30 Hours Free Childcare Calculator
Estimate funded hours and the private fees that may remain.
Use The CalculatorTax-Free Childcare Explained
Compare the 20% government top-up with other support routes.
Read Tax-Free Childcare GuideAfter-School Club Cost Calculator
Plan term-time wraparound care and holiday club expenses.
Calculate Club CostsUniversal Credit Childcare Calculator FAQs
Answers to common questions about reimbursement, caps, evidence and reporting.
Plan Your Childcare Budget With More Confidence
Use the Universal Credit Childcare Calculator as a planning estimate, then confirm eligible costs, evidence and reporting dates through your Universal Credit account or work coach.
Calculate Childcare Support