DWP Central Freedom of
Information Team
Caxton House
6-12 Tothil Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Owen Stevens
freedom-of-information-
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
DWP Website
Our Ref: FOI2022/97014
20 December 2022
Dear Owen Stevens,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FoI) request received on 5 December. You
wrote:
“The new Secretary of State recently told the Work and Pensions Select Committee that
new internal guidance had been issued:
Q34 Siobhan Bail ie: On the childcare element of Universal Credit, we have heard
evidence that work coaches struggle with this. We were told that there was an effort to
put a specialist childcare work coach into various different jobcentres. I would be
interested to know whether there has been any progress on this. It is a generous scheme
at 85%. We know that the take-up is incredibly low and we have had witnesses before us
tel ing us it is actively discouraging them from not only going to work but maximising their
opportunity, particularly with the up-front costs. I would be interested to know what work
has been done to assist work coaches to assist claimants and whether there are any
potential changes coming down the track with childcare.
Mel Stride: We do recognise that we need to get the message out there. In June this year
a major communication strategy was rol ed out to encourage take-up, with the
Department communicating new internal guidance to operational staff.
Please provide a copy of the new internal guidance issued in June.”
DWP Response
We confirm that we do hold the information you have requested. Please find the fol owing
Universal Credit Guidance products attached:
Childcare costs
Tax free childcare
Registered or approved childcare
Spotlight on: Childcare costs verification
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If you have any queries about this letter, please contact us quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Central Freedom of Information Team
Department for Work and Pensions
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx or by writing to: DWP Central FoI Team, Caxton
House, 6-12 Tothil Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. General y, the Commissioner cannot make
a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Website:
ICO FOI and EIR complaints or telephone 0303 123 1113.
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