This report by Dr Marsha Wood, Dr Rita Griffiths and Professor Nick Pearce draws on interviews with 22 low-income parents in receipt of Universal Credit (UC) and explores how they manage childcare costs, as well as their broader experiences of childcare and work conditionality requirements.

In particular, the report focuses on the challenges low-income parents faced with reclaiming childcare costs through the childcare element of Universal Credit. The report makes a number of recommendations about improving childcare support for low-income families.

The interviews were conducted as part of a wider qualitative longitudinal research study, funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, exploring the experiences of working claimants on UC.

An accompanying policy brief summarises the key findings and recommendations.