Universal Credit and childcare costs

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 25 Nov 2021 Closed: 24 Jul 2023 Parliament page
The Committee looked into how well Universal Credit supports parents with childcare costs. We focussed on: • The requirement for parents to cover childcare costs upfront. • The maximum amounts that the Government will reimburse each month. • How easy it is for parents to get advice about what support … Read more
8 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
4 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
31 Mar
2023
Report published
23 Feb
2023
Correspondence
9 Feb
2023
Correspondence
20 Dec
2022
Report published
6 Jul
2022
Correspondence
21 Apr
2022
Correspondence
20 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
20 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
2 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
2 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
26 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
26 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
20 Apr 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
David Rutley MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Donna Ward · Department for Work and Pensions Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions Neil Couling · Department for Work and Pensions
2 Mar 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
Annabel Denham · Institute of Economic Affairs Aria Babu · The Entrepreneurs Network Gavin Rice · Centre for Social Justice Gemma Widdowfield Nichola Salvato Vikki Waterman
26 Jan 2022
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Work and Pensions Committee
Ceri Smith · Department for International Trade Charlotte McDonagh · Save the Children UK Dr Rita Griffiths · Institute for Policy Research, University of Bath Helen Donohoe · Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years Jonathan Broadbery · National Day Nurseries Association Oliver Crunden · Citizen’s Advice
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Universal Credit and childcare costs HC 127 20 Dec 2022 14 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Universal Credit a…
We recommend the Government amend the regulations on the use of the Flexible Support Fund...
We recommend the Government amend the regulations on the use of the Flexible Support Fund so that receipts for payments made from the Fund can be submitted as if the parent had paid the childcare costs themselves. This would have … Read more
Government Response
The government will not amend regulations on the use of the Flexible Support Fund, stating that it would not want to risk introducing a reporting system to such a granular level of detail that may drive undesirable behaviour across Jobcentres.
Department for Work and Pensions
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11 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Universal Credit a…
The range of childcare support schemes available to parents is complex, and they need access...
The range of childcare support schemes available to parents is complex, and they need access to good quality, timely information to make the best decisions about 48 Universal Credit and childcare costs their finances. We recommend the Department for Work … Read more
Government Response
The Department does not agree with the Committee that developing specific calculations on payments for UC childcare would be beneficial for claimants and feel that it could be misleading.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 8 classified
Accepted 3
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 2
Total 8 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
23 Feb 2023 Correspondence to Secretary of State relating to the Universal Credit and childcare costs Report
Parliament page
9 Feb 2023 Correspondence from the Minister for Employment on Flexible Support Fund expenditure
Parliament page
6 Jul 2022 Correspondence with the Minister for Welfare Delivery and the Minister for Employment on Universal Credit and childcare costs
Parliament page
21 Apr 2022 Correspondence with the Minister for Welfare Delivery relating to the Universal Credit and childcare costs inquiry
Parliament page