Financial and practical help for families
Initiatives that can help parents under financial pressure to support their children.
Many people are feeling financial pressure and finding it difficult to make ends meet. Here are some initiatives that can help parents support their children.
You may also be interested in food banks and support with food.
Help buying milk, fruit and vegetables
Healthy Start is a scheme that helps parents with children up to the age of 4 buy milk, fruit and vegetables.
If you are eligible, you will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it. You can use this card in some UK shops.
Get help to buy milk and food - Healthy Start
Tax-Free Childcare
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you will set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your childcare provider.
Free school meals
If you receive certain benefits, your child or children may be eligible for free school meals and pupil premium funding.
Apply for free school meals - GOV.UK
Free school meals and pupil premium benefits - Surrey County Council