Planning for a family and childcare options
If you have finished your training and are planning to start a family in the near future or looking for childcare options while you work, there are three types of government financial support that can help.
1. Twenty hours' free childcare
The Government provides 20 hours of free, teacher-led childcare a week for three and four year old children.
Team-Up website – information about 20 hours of free childcare
2. Paid parental leave
Once you have been in a job for six or 12 months (depending on the average number of hours you work per week), you can take paid parental leave for 14 weeks and have your job held open for up to one year. Some employment contracts offer an employee who has taken parental leave the right to return to the workforce on a part-time basis. Check out this clause in your employment contract if this is a consideration for you.
Department of Labour website – information about parental leave
3. Working for Families scheme
If you are on a middle to low income, the Working for Families scheme means you can apply for a tax credit, depending on your household earnings and the number of children you have.
Working for Families website – tax credits for low to middle income earners with children
Meet Becs and Matt who would like to have a family
Becs has got a Bachelor in business administration and is currently working for a medium-sized company as a project co-ordinator. She really likes her work and her team. Matt is about to finish his apprenticeship as an electrical fitter.
Becs and Matt have known each other for four years and have recently moved in together. Although they know that they don't have a high income at the moment, they are thinking about starting a family. Both of them really want to be young parents. Both Bec's and Matt's parents were in their thirties when they decided to have children.
Bec's parents are high income earners and since they are keen to have grandchildren they are offering financial support. They are also keen to help with childcare.
Becs and Matt are now looking into all options for childcare support to ensure that they will be able to bring up a child in their current situation.
