New Deal for Lone Parents is a Government programme designed specifically to help lone parents who want to work. If you join this programme, you will get a trained New Deal for Lone Parents Personal Adviser.They are there to be your contact throughout the whole process and it is their job to:

  • get to know a little about you so you end up with a job you can enjoy
  • calculate how much better off you could be in a job
  • discuss with you what kind of job you would like to get
  • draw up an action plan to help you get that job
  • help you look and apply for suitable jobs
  • help you find training opportunities
  • help you find and organise registered childcare
  • help you with expenses that may occur during your job search
  • explain which benefits you will be entitled to once you start work
  • continue to offer you help and advice even after you have found work

Can I join New Deal for Lone Parents?

If you’re a lone parent with a dependent child under 16 years old and you are not working, or working less than 16 hours a week, then the programme is open to you. Just contact your local Jobcentre (in some areas Jobcentre Plus) office and ask to speak to a New Deal for Lone Parents’ Personal Adviser.

What help is available for childcare costs?

Once you have joined New Deal for Lone Parents you could get help with childcare costs while you attend appointments with your New Deal for Lone Parents’ Personal Adviser, attend job interviews, undertake approved training or take part in work trials.

What kind of childcare can be paid for?

To be eligible for help with paying childcare costs the childcare must be:

  • provided by carers registered with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education), e.g. registered childminders or nurseries
  • run on school premises out of school hours or as an out-of-hours club by a local authority
  • provided in schools or establishments exempted from registration under the Children’s Act 1989 or operated on Crown property

If you are not sure if your chosen childcare provider falls into one of the above categories, ask your New Deal for Lone Parents Personal adviser for advice.

How much will I get?

While on approved training the maximum amount of childcare payable depends on the amount of hours you are doing and how many children you need childcare for. At present if you require childcare for five days a week you may be able to get up to a maximum of £135 per week for one child and £200 per week for two or more children.

However, if you are attending an approved training course of less than five days per week you may be able to get daily rates of £27 per day for one child and £40 per day for two or more children.

Your adviser will help you find out about childcare while you train or search for a job. If you are training, your adviser will encourage you to find out whether your college could contribute to your childcare costs.

How will the money be paid?

Your New Deal for Lone Parents’ Personal Adviser will send a form to your childcare provider explaining that Jobcentre Plus will pay an agreed amount and will request confirmation of the childcare arrangements. Then your childcare provider should send the forms back to your New Deal for Lone Parents’ Personal Adviser, who will arrange for the money to be paid directly to them. Payments are usually monthly.

Finding out more about New Deal for Lone Parents

If you want to find out more about New Deal for Lone Parents or arrange to see a personal adviser:

  • contact your local Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus office
  • call the information line on 0800 868 868
  • visit the Jobcentre Plus New Deal website

Source: D.E.S.  Crown Copyright.