Guides & Articles
Plain-English guides on free childcare, Child Benefit, Free School Meals, Universal Credit and more — updated for 2026/27.
Universal Credit New
The Two-Child Benefit Cap Has Been Abolished — What It Means for Your Family
From 6 April 2026, Universal Credit now pays the child element for every child. If you have three or more children and receive UC, here's what changes and what to do now.
Childcare
Going Back to Work After Maternity Leave: Your Complete Childcare Cost Guide
The numbers, the schemes, the decisions — everything working out whether you can actually afford to go back, and how to maximise the support available.
Childcare
30 Hours Free Childcare: What It Actually Means for Your Family in 2025
Who qualifies, how to apply, the deadlines you cannot miss, and what "free" actually costs.
Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare vs Universal Credit Childcare: Which Is Worth More?
These two schemes are mutually exclusive. Get the decision wrong and it could cost thousands.
Tax & Childcare
The Pension Contribution Trick That Restores Your Childcare Entitlements
Earning near £100,000? A pension contribution could restore up to £7,500+ a year in childcare support.
School Age
Free School Meals 2026: Who Qualifies and What Else It Unlocks
FSM eligibility is changing in September 2026 — and it unlocks holiday clubs, uniform grants and more.
Benefits
Child Benefit 2026: The HICBC Taper Explained Simply
New rates from April 2026, how the income taper works, and why you should claim even if you pay it all back.
School Age
The HAF Programme: Free Holiday Clubs for Eligible Families
Up to 16 free days over summer for eligible children — and most qualifying families don't know it exists.