Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if people whose working hours are reduced to less than 16 hours per week during the covid-19 outbreak after 31 October 2020 will be able to access the childcare element of working tax credits.

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, HMRC changed regulations to ease the Working Tax Credit hours requirements and treat claimants as if they were working their normal hours. This meant that claimants whose hours dropped below the requirements, including the 16 hours per week for a single adult with one or more children, could remain on Working Tax Credit. This easement was tied to the length of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and is set to expire on 31 October.

We will shortly lay legislation to implement an additional easement for the length of the Job Support Scheme. This will ensure claimants whose hours reduce due to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have access to Working Tax Credit and its childcare element.