HomeBusiness
Sign in
SupportFund

Research topic

Families data

Family finances, childcare costs and children's living standards.

Key statistics

External source

166,000

166,000 households received the Universal Credit childcare element

166,000 households in Great Britain received the Universal Credit childcare element in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

135,000

135,000 single-parent households received the childcare element

135,000 single households received the Universal Credit childcare element in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

30,000

30,000 couple households received the childcare element

30,000 couple households received the Universal Credit childcare element in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

£380

Average Universal Credit childcare element was £380

The average Universal Credit childcare element paid was £380 in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

£660

Average childcare element in London was £660

The average Universal Credit childcare element paid to London claimants was £660 in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

27%

27% of childcare element claimants' youngest child was pre-school age

Among all Universal Credit childcare element claimants, 27% had a youngest child of pre-school age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

12%

12% of childcare element claimants' youngest child was of primary-school age

Among all Universal Credit childcare element claimants, 12% had a youngest child of primary-school age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data
External source

1%

1% of childcare element claimants' youngest child was of secondary-school age

Among all Universal Credit childcare element claimants, 1% had a youngest child of secondary-school age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

View original source
View data

See all 50 UK household finance statistics for 2026 →

Charts

No charts for this topic yet

Charts are generated from published datasets, so they appear as soon as verified data for this topic is added.

Datasets

No downloadable datasets for this topic yet

Datasets are published with a full source, licence and last-updated date. Where a licence does not allow redistribution we link to the original publisher instead.

Other research topics

BenefitsCost of LivingEnergyHousehold BillsHousingDebt

0 charts published across all topics.