Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will extend the run on period for entitlement for the childcare element of universal credit to include two assessment periods after the assessment period in which the client ceases employment to help mitigate the economic effects of the covid-19 outbreak.

Universal Credit (UC) claimants who cease employment and have pre-existing childcare arrangements, will be eligible for reimbursement of up to 85% of their childcare costs as part of their UC award for the assessment period in which they cease work and the subsequent assessment period. There are no current plans to extend this.