More financial support with childcare

You may also be eligible for help with childcare costs from government schemes, including Healthy Start vouchers, free school meals and child tax credit

Healthy food vouchers

With Healthy Start you may be able to get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins for yourself and your child.

If you are pregnant or have children under the age of four and are recieivng certain benefits benefits, you could be eligible.

Free School Meals

You children may be able to get Free School Meals.

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is an income-related allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education.

Help for parents in higher education

If you are a full-time student with children you may qualify for extra financial help on top of your standard student finance package.

GOV.UK has more information on student finance.

Help for grandparents and other family members

If you are a grandparent, or other family member, who has given up work to care for a child under 12, you may be entitled to receive Specified Adult Childcare National Insurance credits.

These credits help fill in any gaps in your National Insurance record which means that you’ll still get the full State Pension and other benefits.

How to apply

You can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits if:

  • you are a grandparent, or other family member caring for a child under 12
  • you were over 16, and under State Pension age when you cared for the child
  • you are a UK resident
  • the child’s parent is entitled to Child Benefit and has a qualifying year for National Insurance
  • the child’s parent agrees to your application by countersigning the form

GOV.UK has more about eligibility and how to apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits.