Latest news with #Childcare
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Maximum Parental Leave Pay days to increase from July 1 for parents, carers
Parents or carers of children who will be born in the new financial year will soon benefit from more paid parental leave. From July 1, Services Australia will lift the number of Parental Leave Pay days from 110 to 120 for children born from that day. Parents, including of adoptive children, will be able to claim up to three months before the date they expect the child to 'enter their care'. Parental Leave Pay is intended to support families and caregivers who have taken time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Currently, parents with children born since July 1, 2024 receive 110 days of paid parental leave, including any claims before July 1, 2025. For the new maximum of 120 days, a parent or carer will have to provide proof that their child was either born or adopted from that date. The maximum number of Parental Leave Pay days is expected to rise again to 130 from July 1, 2026. In order to be eligible for the payments, a parent or carer must pass a work and income test and not be working the days they receive the payment. The payment is available before, during, and after employer-funded leave and is only available for a single child in the event of multiple children. The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $183.16 per day before tax or $915.80 per five-day week. That is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
HFMD situation in Selangor under control, early signs of recovery seen, says state exco
SHAH ALAM, May 22 — The hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) situation in Selangor is under control and showing early signs of recovery following coordinated control measures. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor recorded 39,233 HFMD cases as of Epidemiological Week 19 (EW19/2025), which ended on May 10. She noted a significant rise in cases between EW1 5 and EW19, particularly after the first week of the Aidilfitri celebration. 'This increase is attributed to more active movement of people, social visits, close interactions among children in crowded settings such as relatives' homes, and the sharing of food and toys. 'Another factor is the lax screening at childcare facilities, which has hampered efforts to detect and isolate symptomatic children,' she said in a statement today. Jamaliah added that nine cases involving the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) variant were reported - seven in Sabak Bernam and two in Hulu Langat. One patient in Sabak Bernam was hospitalised and has since fully recovered, while the others received outpatient treatment. She said most HFMD clusters occurred in childcare and early education centres, including nurseries, kindergartens, preschools and tuition centres (42.8 per cent), followed by primary schools (5 per cent), day care centres (3 per cent), and secondary schools (0.2 per cent). The remaining 49 per cent were home-based. As of EW 19, a total of 627 premises were closed - 192 voluntarily and 435 under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). 'Voluntary closures involved 63 nurseries, 81 kindergartens, 25 government-run preschools (tabika), 15 preschools, one care centre, six primary schools and one other premises. 'Enforced closures included 168 nurseries, 157 kindergartens, 69 tabika, 29 preschools, two care centres and 10 primary schools,' she said. Jamaliah said the Selangor Health Department has instructed for increased sample collection, especially at institutions and among hospitalised patients, to improve monitoring and detection of virus variants. She advised parents not to send symptomatic children to care or educational centres and to ensure they remain at home until fully recovered to prevent further transmission. Operators of early childhood education centres are also urged to refuse entry to symptomatic children, conduct health screenings at entry points and maintain a high level of hygiene. She added that the state government, through the Public Health Committee, will distribute educational materials on HFMD, including information on symptoms and preventive measures, to nurseries and kindergartens in high-incidence areas. 'This initiative aims to strengthen community awareness and preparedness. The state government remains committed to working closely with the Selangor Health Department and all relevant agencies to control the outbreak effectively,' she said. — Bernama
South Wales Guardian
03-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
HMRC offers Tax Free Childcare for school and nursery pupils
Tax-Free Childcare can be used flexibly to pay for childminders, wraparound and holiday childcare. Hundreds of thousands of parents who recently found out their little one's September primary school place, can use Tax-Free Childcare to save thousands on wraparound childcare and holiday club costs HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said. Many working families will now be arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day, and with Tax-Free Childcare they can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, says: 'Starting school can be an expensive time, there's a lot to buy and there's also a lot to organise. Now you know where your child is going to school you can start organising your childcare and Tax-Free Childcare can help make the costs more manageable. Sign up to start saving today on Tax-Free Childcare is a scheme that can be used to pay for any approved childcare so parents can arrange their childcare to suit them - whether that's wraparound care, a childminder, after school clubs or school holiday care. For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to use to pay for their childcare costs. Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. It's quick and easy to apply on the HMRC website. Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not. Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 a year after deductions. If your child is disabled and usually lives with you, you may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday. They're eligible for this if they: Recommended reading: HMRC says you can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example: Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from tax-free childcare. It's a good idea to check with your provider to see if they're signed up beforehand. If your child is disabled, you can use the extra tax-free childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
South Wales Guardian
26-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
HMRC urging parents to claim £2,000 tax-free childcare
Tax-free childcare sees parents given up to £2,000 a year - split up into £500 each quarter - for each of their children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every three months if a child is disabled (or up to £4,000 a year in total). To get tax-free childcare, parents just need to set up an online childcare account for each child. For every £8 they pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay a nursery or childminder. Are you missing out on egg-cellent childcare savings? 🥚 Chick out our Tax-Free Childcare scheme and sign up to unlock savings of up to £2,000 a year per child on approved childcare costs. 💸🐣 Find out more 👇 Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not. If your child is disabled and usually lives with you, you may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday. They're eligible for this if they: HMRC says you can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example: Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from tax-free childcare. It's a good idea to check with your provider to see if they're signed up beforehand. If your child is disabled, you can use the extra tax-free childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. No. This depends on: You can usually get tax-free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are: You may still be eligible if your partner is working and you get any of the following: You can apply if you're starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days. Over the next three months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least: This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average. You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if: If you're self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago, you can earn less and still be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare. If you have more than one job, you can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes: If you're both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible. For example, if you expect your average self-employed earnings over the tax year to be more than you'll get over the next 3 months as an employee. Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible. These include: If you or your partner have an expected 'adjusted net income' over £100,000 in the current tax year, you will not be eligible. You cannot get tax-free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit or childcare vouchers. Which scheme you're better off with depends on your situation. Use the childcare calculator to work out which type of support is best for you. You must tell your employer within 90 days of applying for Tax-Free Childcare to stop your childcare vouchers or directly contracted childcare. They'll then stop the vouchers or directly contracted childcare. You may have to give HMRC evidence of leaving the childcare voucher scheme. Wait until you get a decision on your Tax-Free Childcare application before cancelling your Universal Credit claim. If you or your partner get a childcare bursary or grant or expect to do so within the next 3 months, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare. Recommended reading: You can apply online for Tax-Free Childcare. If you apply for Tax-Free Childcare and someone else already gets free childcare for that child, their 15 or 30 hours will stop at the end of the next term. You may be eligible for 15 or 30 hours free childcare instead. You must include your partner in your application if you are: You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child. You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child. If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare account.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Parents with children born after 2014 could be entitled to up to £4,000
The tax scheme allows working parents to save up to £2,000 a year on childcare costs, and up to £4,000 for children with disabilities. But time is running out to claim it Parents with youngsters born after 2014 can apply to a government scheme that could bring in up to £4,000 towards childcare expenses. Money specialist Robert King of Nannywage Ltd is urging mums and dads not to overlook the tax-free benefit available for those with kids under 11 as the new tax year kicks in. Robert said: "The Tax-Free Childcare scheme allows working parents to save up to £2,000 per child annually on approved childcare costs, and up to £4,000 for children with disabilities. For every £8 deposited into the account, the government contributes an additional £2, up to £500 every three months, or £1,000 for disabled children." He added: "Parents should take advantage of this scheme, as it provides valuable financial relief, helping families manage childcare costs while maintaining flexibility to withdraw unused funds if circumstances change." Applying for Tax-Free Childcare should be a quick job, with Robert indicating it takes just 20 minutes online on the government's website. Once set up, the account is ready for immediate use — covering expenses across nurseries, childminders, as well as breakfast, after-school clubs, or holiday activity clubs. He explained that any money not used can be taken out without a fuss, reports Leicestershire Live. Robert said: "Parents must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage and no more than £100,000 annually per parent. The scheme is not available to those receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit, or childcare vouchers". READ MORE: 'My husband thought he'd got a bug from our son but then he died - aged just 36' "For self-employed individuals or directors, additional proof of meeting minimum income requirements may be needed, such as accountant statements, invoices, wage slips, or bank statements. This ensures the scheme supports those actively working and contributing to childcare expenses. "The scheme supports children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if they have a disability. Eligibility ends on September 1 after the child's 11th or 16th birthday, depending on their circumstances."
