7 April 2025
From 7 April, the maximum amount you can receive for childcare costs increased to £1,031.88 for one child, and £1,768.94 for 2 or more children.
18 December 2024
In section 3, Support for children: added that you should report a change in circumstances straight away if your child changes their course or training, or finishes or stops their course or training early.
19 November 2024
Added information about when your work-related activities may be temporarily reduced.
9 July 2024
If your child is over 16 and in education or training, at the end of July you’ll get a journal message in your online account explaining what you’ll need to do before 31 August.
8 April 2024
You could receive a maximum childcare payment of £1,014.63 for one child and £1,739.37 for 2 or more children.
25 October 2023
From 25 October 2023, if you are the lead carer of a child aged between 3 and 12, you will be expected to work up to 30 hours a week, or spend up to 30 hours a week on work related activities.
28 June 2023
Updated the maximum childcare payment you could receive with Universal Credit from £646.35 to £950.92 a month for one child and from £1,108.04 to £1,630.15 a month for 2 or more children.
9 October 2020
Added instruction to let your work coach know as soon as you accept a job offer, as you can claim support for your childcare costs for at least a month before you start work, for people with a youngest child aged between 3 and 12.
1 July 2020
Removed the wording 'You will not get a sanction if you cannot keep to your Claimant Commitment because of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.
22 February 2019
Removed references to Universal Credit full service and live service.
1 February 2019
Updated guidance to reflect that new claims to Universal Credit can now be made by households with more than 2 children.
15 January 2019
Added information about changes to Pension Credit for mixed age couples from 15 May 2019.
17 December 2018
Removed information about people over Pension Credit qualifying age published in error on 17 December 2018.
17 December 2018
Added information to section 6 about changes to the eligibility for Pension Credit and Universal Credit couple claims from 1 February 2019.
12 December 2018
Updated to show that Universal Credit is now available everywhere in Great Britain.
27 September 2018
Universal Credit live service telephone helpline opening hours changed to 9am to 4pm.
30 November 2017
Section 7 amended to add further information on capped hours.
29 November 2017
Updated guide with new 0800 freephone numbers for Universal Credit.
3 November 2017
Clarified information about reporting changes of circumstances, who can claim Universal Credit and how some people in Scotland can be paid.
3 April 2017
Updated to reflect changes to what is expected of lead carers in return for Universal Credit.
11 April 2016
Updated to reflect changes to Universal Credit from April 2016 (English only, Welsh to follow).
11 January 2016
Childcare information updated with the date that help with childcare fees increases to up to 85% under Universal Credit.
26 June 2015
Revised version (June 2015) includes information about what Universal Credit means for Kinship carers.
16 February 2015
Revised version with new information about the roll-out of Universal Credit.
24 November 2014
Revised version includes latest information about Universal Credit.
12 November 2014
Published new version of the guide.
23 June 2014
Updated to include the latest information about the expansion of Universal Credit
19 November 2013
Detail updated to include more information about the content of the document.
28 March 2013
First published.