{"id":20986,"date":"2021-04-15T11:23:21","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T11:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smh.group\/?p=20986"},"modified":"2021-04-15T11:23:21","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T11:23:21","slug":"missing-out-on-tax-free-childcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devstagesite.co.uk\/smhgroup\/missing-out-on-tax-free-childcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Missing out on tax-free childcare?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By setting up an online childcare account, you can get a government top-up to help with the costs of childcare. However, thousands are missing out on this payment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tax-free childcare is worth up to \u00a3500 every three months (\u00a32,000 a year) for each of your children, which doubles if a child has disabilities. Despite the impact of lockdowns, nearly 250,000 families saved money using the scheme in December 2020, an increase of more than 40,000 compared to a year earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How tax-free childcare works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your child must be aged under 12, with eligibility ceasing on 1 September after their 11th birthday (under 17 if a child has disabilities).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every \u00a38 you pay into your childcare account, the government will pay \u00a32. These amounts can then be used to pay for approved childcare, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n