Charity welcomes benefit help for parents of disabled children

Learning difficulty charity Mencap has welcomed the extension of
eligibility rights for the childcare tax credit to parents of
disabled children, which will help them with the cost of childcare
at home, writes Clare Jerrom.

Mencap has campaigned on this issue because many children with
learning difficulties require intensive support and care that can
only be met in the home.

The extension, announced in the Budget, will mean the childcare
tax credit can be claimed for childcare provided in the home by
registered nurses and childminders.

Richard Kramer, Mencap’s head of campaigns, said: “These
parents have little support to meet the immense costs of childcare,
which needs to be done at home because many disabled children are
unable to access nursery buildings, or do not live near centres
with specialist staff to look after them.”