Rochdale Borough Council

​​​​​Childcare can be expensive but help is available

• Free childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds - up to 15 hours per week for eligible 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds
• 30 hours FREE childc​are for 3 and 4 year olds- find out if you're eligible and what to do next.
• Childcare Choices - calculate and find new ways to help with childcare costs.
• Universal Credit help - you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.
• Childcare and tax c​redits - you could get extra tax credits to help pay for some of your childcare costs while you’re working.
• Work out your weekly childcare​​ costs - use with the Tax Credits claim form.
• Check if you are eligible for T​​ax Credits and get an estimate of how much you may get - to help with childcare costs.

More information about other Tax Credits

• Child Tax Cred​it- you may be able to claim if you're responsible for children under the age of 20. ​
• Working Tax Cr​edit - you could get Working Tax Credit if either you’re aged from 16 to 24 and have a child or a qualifying disability or you’re 25 or over, with or without children

Other help you may be entitled to

• Childcare vouchers - offered by some employers to help with childcare costs.
• Free Early Education - available for eligible 2 year-olds and all 3 and 4 year-olds.
• Work Preparation Supp​ort - can help with childcare costs when moving from benefits to a job. There's help for both parents and carers.
• Care to Lea​rn -  if you're under 20, a parent and studying a course, this scheme can help pay for your childcare and travel costs up to £160 a week.
• Discretionary L​​earner Support - if you’re aged 19 or over, on a further education course and facing financial hardship, you could get Discretionary Learner Support (DLS).
• Childcare Grant - you may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you are a full-time higher education student and have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs.
• Parent's Learni​​ng Allowance - you may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children. How much you get depends on your household income.