THOUSANDS of parents on benefits will get a cash boost of more than £500 from today as hiked childcare payments hit bank accounts.
Childcare support for less well-off mums and dads has been increased by almost 50 per cent to enable them to work more hours, or to get a job.
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Parents claiming Universal Credit can now get up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more kids, up from £646 and £1,108 respectively.
The money is used to cover up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs which have spiralled in recent years.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt increased the amount in the last Budget to reflect crippling childcare prices.
He also announced a dramatic expansion of free childcare hours which will eventually extend to nine-month-year olds.
Welfare Secretary Mel Stride wants these stay-at-home parents to get work and help plug Britain’s record vacancies.
He said last night: “By removing one of the biggest barriers to work for parents in Britain we are giving families the chance of a better future while doubling down on this government’s pledge to grow the economy and bear down on inflation.”
Who’s eligible for the pay rise?
There isn’t a minimum amount of working hours to qualify for this change, according to the DWP.
Instead, Universal Credit work coaches have been told that parents need to increase their hours by “at least a few hours more every week” to qualify for upfront cash.
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Any increase in work hours would need to alter their childcare pattern by at least a few hours per week over the course of a month.
This means that parents will be expected to require more childcare hours to qualify.
It’s vital that claimants entering work or increasing their hours speak to their work coaches as soon as possible to request upfront childcare cash.
