Question follow-through · 11691

Flexible Support Fund: Universal Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department provides to parents on Universal Credit on using the Flexible Support Fund to cover upfront childcare costs.

answeredDepartment for Work and Pensions

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Tabled
29 Oct 2024
Target answer date
31 Oct 2024
Answer
6 Nov 2024 · 8 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Education and skills

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Recorded timeline

  1. 29 Oct 2024

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department provides to parents on Universal Credit on using the Flexible Support Fund to cover upfront childcare costs.

  2. 31 Oct 2024

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 6 Nov 2024

    Answer published

    The Flexible Support Fund can be used to pay 100% of the upfront costs of up to one month of childcare. This is designed to ensure that any costs that the Universal Credit customer incurs in relation to childcare when starting work or increasing their hou...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 27 Sept 2026.

Later records

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3 Jan 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of benefits for disabled people.

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Social Security Benefits: Disability

23 Jan 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21895 on Benefits for people with disabilities, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the benefits available for people with disabilities.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Disability: Social Security Benefits

10 Jun 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on disabled people of her decision not to hold a consultation on proposed cuts to disability benefits.

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Disability: Social Security Benefits

10 Jun 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish a health and social care impact assessment of the decision to reduce disability benefits.

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Housing Benefit: Supported Housing

12 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Housing Benefit taper rate on the number of young people living in supported accommodation who are in work.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Housing Benefit: Supported Housing

12 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that young people living in supported accommodation are not financially disadvantaged when increasing their working hours.

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Retail Trade: Health and Safety

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Childcare and Social Security Benefits: Families

11 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to help support the financial needs of families, including their (a) eligibility for benefits and (b) access to childcare support.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

State Retirement Pensions: Women

9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to make a decision on a compensation scheme for women impacted by State Pension age changes.