Dental nursing is 99% female – and dentistry overall is now more than 50% female – so childcare is a big consideration for working families in dentistry, says the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN).
The association has issued guidance on the tax-free schemes and childcare help available following conversations with experts at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Some could be worth up to thousands of pounds a year.
Tax-free childcare
A government-funded top up scheme worth up to £2k a year (£4k if a child has a disability) for each child under the age of 11 (or 16 for a child with a disability) to help pay for approved childcare.
Full eligibility is on GOV.UK but in summary it is for working parents earning up to £100k each, at least national minimum wage for 16 hours a week and who do not receive tax credits, universal credit or childcare vouchers.
Tax-free childcare can be used with free childcare hours – either 15 or 30 hours depending on eligibility – and child benefit, which is currently £25.60 for the eldest or only child and £16.95 for each additional child.
You can use tax-free childcare to pay for approved childcare, for example:
- Childminders, nurseries and nannies
- After-school clubs and play schemes.
Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from tax-free childcare.
Tax credits and universal credits also offer alternative childcare support and, while they can’t be used with tax-free childcare, they could be worth thousands to the household budget.
More information is available on the members’ area of the BADN website. Visit www.badn.org.uk.
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