WRAPPING YOUR head around childcare costs can be confusing, particularly given the Ministry of Defence has three elements to the support it extends to working families.
While each can be used to meet some of the expense of before and after-school care for children aged between four and 11, which of the trio you could apply for depends on your eligibility and where in the world you are.
- Wrap Around Childcare is for families living in the UK. To claim it you must meet all the eligibility criteria and be able to pay your provider from a tax-free childcare account.
- Wrap Around Childcare Overseas is, as its name suggests, the overseas equivalent of Wrap Around Childcare. Families who are eligible and assigned to countries in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or who use Defence Children Services providers may be able to claim it. If a local childcare provider is used, they must be registered with host nation authorities.
- Primary School Aged Childcare Overseas was launched in January and is for families living in locations where Wrap Around Childcare Overseas eligibility rules do not apply. Families must meet the eligibility requirements and, when using a local childcare provider, they must be registered with host nation authorities.
To find out more, visit discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk