Overview

• More than 800,000 families have not enrolled in the Tax-Free Childcare scheme that offers up to £2,000 per child annually.
• Child Benefit rates rose in April 2025 to £26.05 per week for the first child with £17.25 weekly per additional child, totaling £3,148 for families with three or more children.
• Working parents on Universal Credit qualify to claim 85% of childcare costs up to £1,031 per month for one child or £1,768 for two or more children.
• From September 2025 eligible parents of children aged nine months to two years can access 30 hours per week of free childcare.
• HMRC has urged use of online calculators to check eligibility to avoid missing out on benefits worth up to £35,627.