Childcare support

Childcare is expensive, but there is support available to help manage the costs. As a service family, there are several schemes available to help with the cost of childcare. The first thing to know is that if you have children, it’s important to make sure they are correctly recorded on JPA. This helps ensure you receive the right allowances, housing support and access to childcare schemes.

One of the main schemes available is called Wraparound Childcare, or WAC. This scheme helps with the cost of before- and after- school childcare for children aged 4 to 11 years old, and extends to 16 years old, if the child is in receipt of disability allowances. Eligible families can claim a number of hours per week of funded childcare during term time, per child. You can use this with registered childcare providers, such as school-based clubs or approved childcare settings.

This support is designed to make it easier for Service parents and partners to work, train or manage family life alongside Service commitments. For families posted overseas, similar support may also be available through Wraparound Childcare Overseas, or Primary School-Aged Childcare Overseas Allowance, in locations where standard Wraparound Childcare isn’t available. You can find the most up-to-date information and eligibility details on JPA and the MoD website.

In addition to financial support, there are organisations that offer practical and emotional support to armed forces families. For example, the charity Home-Start UK provides confidential, free support to families with young children, including those living on bases in the UK and Cyprus. Alongside MoD support, you may also be eligible for wider government schemes. For example, the government offers up to 30 hours of free childcare a week to help working parents. 

So, who can get it? First, it’s for children aged 9 months old until they start school. You can use the hours with approved childcare providers like nurseries, playgroups and childminders. To qualify, you and your partner, if you have one, need to be working. That means you should each be earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at minimum wage. If you’re self-employed, that still counts, as long as you meet the earnings level. There’s also an upper limit. If you or your partner earn more than a certain amount a year, you won’t be eligible. 

Here’s a quick example. Let’s say Sam works part-time, 20 hours a week and earns above the minimum wage. Because he is above the minimum earnings threshold, Sam qualifies for the scheme. With a toddler at home, Sam can get up to 30 hours of free childcare each week during term time. That saves a huge amount on nursery fees, and makes it easier to balance work and family life. If you’re working and have a child under school age, you could get a number of hours of free childcare per week. This is a big help with costs and gives you more flexibility. 

There is also Tax-free Childcare, which is an account you can use to pay for Ofsted-registered childcare, such as childminders or after-school clubs. The government adds money into this account to help with costs, but you need to set it up first. It’s a scheme that helps working parents with the cost of childcare. Whether you’re a single parent or part of a couple, you may be eligible if you’re working and using childcare. You open a special childcare account on gov.uk. You pay in, and the government also adds extra money in, up to a maximum amount every quarter, to help cover your childcare costs. 

You can then use that money to pay your childcare provider directly. This can reduce how much you spend on childcare and may help you take on more hours, accept a new job or even train for something new. But there is an income limit. If you or your partner earn above a certain amount, you may not be eligible. It’s always worth checking the most up-to-date guidance online to see if you qualify.

Finally, Child Benefit is a government payment made every four weeks, designed to help with the cost of raising a child. It is paid to one person who is responsible for the child, and the amount paid may depend on how many children you have. The child must be under 16 years old or under 20 years old if in approved full-time education or training. Child Benefit can also protect a non-working or low-earning parent’s entitlement to State Pension. The amount of Child Benefit you can keep depends on your income. If the highest earner in your household earns above a certain level, the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies. This means some or all of the benefit may need to be paid back through tax.

There are several childcare support schemes available to Service families, both through the MoD and wider government programmes. What you can get depends on your work income and family circumstances, but understanding what you’re entitled to can help reduce costs and make balancing service life and family life easier. It’s always worth checking gov.uk so you don’t miss out on support.