Thousands of UK Families Denied Childcare Support from DWP & HMRC

A recent report has highlighted that migrants and refugee families in the UK are being denied access to childcare funding due to their immigration status. The restrictions are preventing children from receiving equal early years education and pushing families further into financial hardship, according to the study.

The report, published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), explains that individuals with “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) are not eligible for the government’s 30 hours of free childcare. This policy affects around 4 million people across the UK, limiting their access to essential support services.

Families Facing Barriers to Childcare Support

Shams Sarker, who moved to London from Bangladesh three years ago on a skilled migrant work visa, expressed his frustration over the restrictions. His two-year-old daughter, born in the UK, does not qualify for the same government-funded childcare as other children.

“We accept having to pay extra for healthcare, fine,” Sarker stated. “But children should have equal rights. I assumed the rules would be the same for all children, but my baby is growing up without the same benefits as other children born here.”

Experts Call for Policy Change

Dr. Lucy Mort, a senior research fellow at IPPR, emphasized the impact of these restrictions, stating that limited access to childcare forces parents out of employment, deepens financial struggles, and hinders children’s early development. She argued that removing these barriers would not only assist working parents but also ensure all children receive a strong educational foundation.

Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, a policy and public affairs manager at Praxis and co-author of the report, echoed this sentiment. She urged the government to lift restrictions on childcare support, describing it as a “commonsense solution” that would help some of the most disadvantaged children in society.

Government’s Response

A spokesperson for the Department for Education reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing children with a strong start in life. They stated that their Plan for Change aims to increase the number of children who are school-ready by age five.

“Despite making tough economic decisions, we have prioritized a £15 million investment to expand school-based nurseries and address local childcare needs,” the spokesperson explained.

They also clarified that parents with NRPF status can access 15 hours of funded childcare per week once their child turns two, subject to eligibility criteria. The government, they added, will continue working towards ensuring childcare funding remains fair and accessible to parents.