This factsheet looks at when parents in work can get help with childcare costs through working tax credit or universal credit. It also looks at other sources of help and the interaction with tax credits or universal credit.
Information for people over 18 who have received a universal credit (UC) sanction because they have not met their work-related requirements. The rules on sanctions are different for 16–17-year-olds and for those on other benefits. Any benefit that has work-related requirements can be sanctioned.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, the financial implications should not be a barrier to making yourself and your children safe. There are special social security rules that are aimed at helping you if you have experienced domestic violence.
If you qualify for a means-tested benefit such as universal credit or housing benefit, or for child tax credit, and you have more than two dependent children, the amount of benefit you get may be restricted by what is called the ‘two-child limit’. This page explains one of the exceptions to the two-child limit which may be relevant to survivors of domestic abuse.
The circumstances in which your work-related requirements for universal credit, new-style jobseeker’s allowance and new-style employment and support allowance can be reduced or paused if you have recently experienced domestic abuse.
Your entitlement to means-tested benefits can be affected by the amount of ‘capital’ you have. The value of a property which you own, or jointly own, counts as capital but in some circumstances its value can be disregarded. If you have had to leave a property you own, or jointly own, because of domestic abuse and you are single, or a single parent, this page explains the effect of your capital on your entitlement to means-tested benefits and whether the value of your property can be disregarded.