Official Statistics

Universal Credit claimants eligible for and receiving the childcare element between March 2021 to February 2022

Updated 29 June 2022

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

The figures used in this release have been superseded by the figures in the latest publication on childcare element statistics. The figures given in the latest publication should be used instead.

Main stories

The statistics show:

• in the latest month for which data is available (February 2022) 119,900 Universal Credit (UC) households were paid the childcare element

• overall, 13% of households with all parents earning and children aged between 0 to 16 were paid the childcare element in February 2022

• 14% of earning single parents with children were paid the childcare element, whilst for dual earning couples this was 12%

• receipt of childcare element is less common where all children in the household were aged 11 or over

• households are most likely to use childcare element where the youngest child in the household is aged 2, with 37% of earning single parent households receiving childcare element, and for dual earning couples this was 32%. This reduces as the youngest child becomes older

• the average (mean) amount of childcare element for assessment periods paid in February 2022 was £329

• for the majority (92%) of households paid childcare element, all adults in the household were earning in the month in which childcare element was paid

• 83% of households who were paid childcare element in February 2022 received £600 or less

• childcare element payments were highest where the youngest child in the household was aged 1 to 2. Childcare costs were also high for the small group of households where the youngest child was aged 12 to 16

• the average monthly amount of childcare element was higher in London (£456) compared to the rest of GB (£241)

Background

Universal Credit (UC) reimburses up to 85% of eligible childcare costs, up to a maximum amount each month of £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children.

To qualify for claiming UC childcare costs, either the claimant, or both the claimant and partner must usually:

• be in paid work, or have accepted an offer of paid work (it does not matter how many hours the claimant / partner work)
• pay for childcare for the relevant child or young person

Paid work does not include being engaged by a charitable or voluntary organisation or being a volunteer (where the only payment is expenses).

There is no minimum number of hours a claimant is expected to work before being able to claim childcare costs through UC. In addition, the UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government free childcare offer which means that eligible parents can claim their 15 or 30 hours of free childcare for 2 to 4 year olds and top up for additional hours needed via UC.

Where parents need help to pay for their first set of childcare costs prior to starting work, work coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund for eligible claimants to meet these costs until their first wage is received.

Find further information on Universal Credit childcare.

Commentary

Table 1: Number of households paid childcare element by household type, March 2021 to February 2022

Payment month	Total households paid childcare element	Earning single parents paid childcare element	Couple parents, both earning, paid childcare element	Other households paid childcare element
Mar 2021	75,100	54,700	11,800	8,500
Apr 2021	86,100	63,500	13,200	9,400
May 2021	93,100	70,200	14,500	8,300
Jun 2021	99,500	76,000	15,500	8,000
Jul 2021	102,900	78,400	16,000	8,400
Aug 2021	102,300	78,400	15,400	8,500
Sep 2021	98,000	75,000	14,400	8,500
Oct 2021	108,200	82,900	15,800	9,600
Nov 2021	114,400	88,400	16,300	9,700
Dec 2021	117,100	89,900	18,200	9,000
Jan 2022	114,100	87,600	17,300	9,200
Feb 2022	119,900	91,900	18,200	9,800

Notes for table 1

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment only.

• The month indicates the month in which the UC payment was due for each household.

• Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100.

• Figures for the most recent months are provisional and may be subject to minor change.

• The figures on “Other households” are not included in any of the analysis in the remainder of this publication.

The total number of households who were paid childcare element in February 2022 was 119,900.

Of the 119,900 households receiving childcare element in February 2022, 91,900 (77%) were earning single parent households, 18,200 (15%) were couple households where both members of the couple were earning, and the remaining 9,800 (8%) were in households where none or only one of the adults was earning during this assessment period.

All adults in the household must usually be earning for the household to be eligible for childcare element, however it can be paid to households in some circumstances where this is not the case. For example, where one member of a couple claim is earning, and the other has limited capability for work or has regular and substantial caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person. Childcare element can also be paid if a claimant has accepted an offer of paid work due to start before the end of the next assessment period, or if they have stopped paid work in the current or previous assessment period. This list is not exhaustive.

When calculating the percentages of households being paid the childcare element, we only consider households where all parents are earning. It would be administratively difficult to accurately count the number of households for whom one of the exceptional reasons for receipt of childcare element applies.

Table 2: Number of households with children aged between 0 to 16 where all adults are earning, and the proportion of these households paid childcare element, March 2021 to February 2022

Payment month	Single households with earnings and a child aged up to and including 16	Couple households where both adults are earning, with a child aged up to and including 16	% Of earning single parents paid childcare element	% Of dual earning couples paid childcare element	Overall % of Households paid childcare element
Mar 2021	513,400	121,900	11%	10%	10%
Apr 2021	526,100	123,000	12%	11%	12%
May 2021	549,700	127,300	13%	11%	13%
Jun 2021	572,000	129,700	13%	12%	13%
Jul 2021	589,300	133,800	13%	12%	13%
Aug 2021	599,600	132,400	13%	12%	13%
Sep 2021	606,700	130,000	12%	11%	12%
Oct 2021	618,800	128,700	13%	12%	13%
Nov 2021	632,500	126,100	14%	13%	14%
Dec 2021	667,300	148,300	13%	12%	13%
Jan 2022	668,800	144,200	13%	12%	13%
Feb 2022	675,700	147,900	14%	12%	13%

Notes for table 2

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment only.
• The month indicates the month in which the UC payment was due for each household.
• Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest 1%.
• Figures for the most recent months are provisional and may be subject to minor change.

In February 2022, there was a total of 675,700 single households on UC where the claimant was earning and responsible for a child aged up to and including 16. There were 91,900 or 14% of these households paid childcare element within this month.

In the same month there was a total of 147,900 couple households on UC where both claimants were earning and responsible for a child aged up to and including 16. There were 18,200 or 12% of these households paid childcare element within this month.

Table 3: Number of households with children where all adults are earning, and the number and proportion of these households paid childcare element, by age of youngest child in the household, February 2022

Age of youngest child	Single households with earnings and a child aged up to and including 16	Couple households where both adults are earning, with a child aged up to and including 16	Earning single parents paid childcare element	Couple parents who are both earning, paid childcare element	% Of earning single parents paid childcare element	% Of dual earning couples paid childcare element	Overall % of households using childcare element
0	33,700	15,400	3,600	1,800	11%	12%	11%
1	42,800	17,100	14,200	4,700	33%	28%	32%
2	51,000	16,400	18,700	5,300	37%	32%	36%
3	56,900	14,500	15,800	3,000	28%	21%	26%
4	56,100	12,600	10,400	1,300	18%	10%	17%
5	53,500	11,100	6,700	600	12%	6%	11%
6	50,100	9,400	6,000	500	12%	5%	11%
7	46,000	8,500	5,200	400	11%	4%	10%
8	42,500	7,400	4,200	300	10%	4%	9%
9	40,000	6,900	3,400	200	9%	3%	8%
10	36,400	6,200	2,300	100	6%	2%	6%
11	34,000	5,500	900	<100	3%	1%	2%
12-16	132,800	17,100	600	<100	0%	0%	0%
Total	675,700	147,900	91,900	18,200	14%	12%	13%

Notes for table 3

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment.
• Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest 1%.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.
• Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Total childcare recipients as a proportion of households where all adults are working, by age of youngest child. February 2022

Households are most likely to use childcare element where the youngest child in the household is aged 1 to 2. This likelihood reduces as the youngest child becomes older.

When looking at specific ages of youngest children, the use of the childcare element is higher among single parent households compared to couples. However, overall, a similar proportion of single parents (14%) and couple parents (12%) are claiming childcare support. This is because the overall rates are affected by the composition of working parents on UC – with a higher proportion of couples on UC having younger children.

Table 4: Number of households with children where all adults are earning, and the number and proportion of these households paid childcare element, by region, February 2022

Region	Single households with earnings with a child aged up to and including 16	Couple households where both adults are earning, with a child aged up to and including 16	Earning single parents paid childcare element	Couple parents who are both earning, paid childcare element	% Of earning single parents paid childcare element	% Of dual earning couples paid childcare element	Overall % of households using childcare element
East Midlands	48,900	11,200	6,900	1,400	14%	13%	14%
East of England	57,100	14,600	6,500	1,500	11%	11%	11%
London	96,100	20,900	13,200	2,100	14%	10%	13%
North East	31,100	5,000	3,100	500	10%	10%	10%
North West	87,100	15,800	14,100	2,500	16%	16%	16%
Scotland	47,300	7,600	5,400	700	11%	10%	11%
South East	74,400	21,900	9,400	2,700	13%	12%	13%
South West	49,800	14,500	6,500	2,100	13%	14%	13%
Wales	31,600	6,100	3,800	700	12%	12%	12%
West Midlands	62,900	13,200	8,700	1,500	14%	12%	13%
Yorkshire and The Humber	59,700	11,300	8,400	1,500	14%	13%	14%
Unknown	29,600	5,700	6,000	1,000	20%	18%	20%
Total	675,700	147,900	91,900	18,200	14%	12%	13%

Notes for table 4

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment only.
• Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 and percentages to the nearest 1%.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.
• The claimant residential address is not present for all households in the UC data source.

Use of childcare element among households where all adults are working is broadly consistent across GB, with the highest proportion in the North West and the lowest proportion in the North East.

Table 5: Average entitlement to childcare element per assessment period, March 2021 to February 2022

Payment month	Mean average value of childcare element (£)
Mar 2021	328
Apr 2021	334
May 2021	324
Jun 2021	330
Jul 2021	338
Aug 2021	341
Sep 2021	346
Oct 2021	330
Nov 2021	328
Dec 2021	338
Jan 2022	309
Feb 2022	329

Notes for table 5

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.

In February 2022, the average (mean) amount of childcare element used in the calculation of the monthly household UC award was £329.

This average uses the amount of childcare entitlement after the 85% and maximum limit have been applied to the childcare amount claimed. The household UC award will be subject to the earnings taper, where they are earning above their work allowance. The taper amount is calculated based solely on earnings in the month. This means for most households (over 90%) the amount shown in this table is the additional amount of UC received from claiming the childcare element. Those households not receiving their full additional childcare element amount are those households with high earnings, who would not have been eligible for any UC without the childcare element being paid.

Childcare element is apportioned and paid to the household at the end of each assessment period in which the child received the childcare. This means that for example, a childcare invoice which covers a period of three months can result in childcare element payments to the household over three or four separate assessment periods (the number of assessment periods depending on whether the childcare dates align with the assessment period dates in this instance).

Table 6: Average entitlement to childcare element, February 2022

Childcare element amount	Number of households	% of households
£1-100	25,500	21%
£101-200	23,800	20%
£201-300	17,300	14%
£301-400	13,700	11%
£401-500	10,500	9%
£501-600	8,500	7%
£601-700	11,900	10%
£701-800	1,500	1%
£801-900	1,300	1%
£901-1000	1,200	1%
£1001-1100	1,500	1%
£1101-1108	3,300	3%
Total	119,900	100%

Notes for table 6

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.

67% of households using childcare element receive £400 or less per assessment period towards their childcare costs, and 83% of households using childcare element receive £600 or less.

Table 7: Average entitlement to childcare element by age of youngest child in the household, February 2022

Age of youngest child	Mean average value of childcare element (£)
0	365
1	441
2	397
3	313
4	280
5	233
6	222
7	214
8	204
9	206
10	211
11	280
12-16	495
Average	329

Notes for table 7

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.

The average amount of childcare element paid to households in February 2022 was highest for households whose youngest child was aged 12 to 16. In general, the amount which received towards a household’s childcare costs was higher for children aged 1 to 2.

The values shown in this table show the amount of childcare element per household per assessment period. The amount that a household pays for their childcare will depend on the age of the child as we have seen, and also on the number of hours or days of childcare that the household pays for.

Table 8: Average entitlement to childcare element by region, February 2022

Childcare element amount	Mean average value of childcare element (£)
East Midlands	225
East of England	221
London	456
North East	237
North West	275
Scotland	261
South East	235
South West	185
Wales	266
West Midlands	258
Yorkshire and The Humber	230
GB	329

Notes for table 8

• Figures are for GB only and include households where UC was in payment.
• Figures are provisional and may be subject to minor change.
• “Unknown” region households removed from this table

The average amount of childcare element per assessment period is higher for households in London compared to the rest of GB.

The average value of childcare element for all regions in GB excluding London, for February 2022, is £241. The average value of childcare element for households in London is almost twice this amount (£456).

About these statistics 

The data in this publication has been compiled using 100% administrative data extracts of Universal Credit claims from the UC system.

Claims with childcare element in payment each month is defined as the total number of UC claims with a payment due date within each month, where there was a childcare element entitlement and UC was in payment. This definition of households on UC paid childcare element has been used in this publication as it is consistent with the reporting of our administrative management information on childcare element recipients.

This count of payments of childcare element reported here is different in definition to the statistics showing households on UC with childcare element which is published on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Stat-Xplore. This means that the total number of households receiving childcare element reported by the two sources varies slightly.

In contrast, on Stat-Xplore the number of households receiving Universal Credit (and with Childcare Element) for each month is defined as the number of households that have an assessment period which spans the count date of that month. The count date is the second Thursday of each month.

The region information is derived from the claimant residential address, and this is not present for all households in the UC data source. Therefore, a small number of households have Unknown region information.

An assessment period on Universal Credit refers to the way UC payments are calculated. UC is assessed and paid in arrears, monthly in a single payment. An assessment period is a 1-month period, starting on the day a claim is submitted. For example, if a claim was submitted on the 7th of the month, the assessment period runs to the 6th of the following month.

An individual in a household is considered to be earning if they have income from either employment or self-employment during the assessment period in which they received childcare element. DWP are normally informed of a claimant’s employment income directly by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on a monthly basis, and a claimant’s self employed income is reported to DWP each month by the claimant themselves.

UC payment data records the total childcare element amount per month and information is not collected on how many days of childcare were received, therefore it’s not possible to calculate the average childcare cost per child per day from this data.

Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics 

The Code of Practice for Statistics (the Code) is built around 3 main concepts, or pillars: 

• trustworthiness – is about having confidence in the people and organisations that publish statistics 
• quality – is about using data and methods that produce statistics 
• value – is about publishing statistics that support society’s needs 

The following explains how we have applied the pillars of the Code in a proportionate way. 

Trustworthiness 

These figures have been published to provide additional information on the subject of childcare following the Work and Pensions Select Committee in April 2022. Releasing them via an ad hoc publication will give equal access to all those with an interest in them.

Quality 

The data which underpins this information is taken directly and solely from Universal Credit administrative data. The methodology and calculations have been quality assured by DWP analysts to ensure they are the best estimates using information available at the time.

Value 

Releasing this information serves the public interest in the number and proportion of UC claims eligible for and receiving childcare element and the amounts paid, making available more timely and accurate data.

Further information and feedback 

Contact  DWP Press Office if you have any questions or feedback.

DWP Press Office: 0115 965 8781

Lead Statistician: Steve Ellerd-Elliott

Analysts: A Mays & H Capocci