If you are getting housing benefit and/or council tax benefit and you have to pay child care costs for somebody to look after your child(ren) whilst you are at work, you may be entitled to extra benefit.

The amount of childcare costs that we can take into account is up to £175 for one child or £300 for two or more children.

If you fall into one of the groups below you may be able to claim help with your childcare costs:

Lone Parents

You can apply if:

• You work 16 hours or more a week or
• You are on maternity leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance.

Couples

You can apply if:

• Both of you work 16 hours or more a week or
• One of you works 16 hours or more a week and the other is disabled or blind and receiving certain other benefits, or
• One of you works 16 hours or more a week and the other is on maternity leave and receiving Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance.
  

The child must be under 15 years of age or 16 if they are disabled, and the care must be provided by one of the following:

• A registered Childminder.
• A registered nursery or playscheme.
• An out of hours scheme run by an approved provider. Your out of hours scheme will be able to tell you whether or not they are approved.
• An out of hours club provided by a school on school premises.

We will need to see proof of the childcare payments you make, and a copy of your Childminder's Registration Certificate.

If you do not already receive Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credt, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and you are paying for Child Care for a child under 15 or 16 if disabled and you would like to apply for a housing benefit or council tax benefit claim form, please contact the Benefits Section, or download our application form.

Click on icon below to download application form.

Housing Benefits Application Form