Childcare affordability trap
New research from Contact a Family shows that mothers of disabled children are locked out of the labour market due to a lack of affordable and good quality childcare. Almost three quarters are forced to give up or limit their careers due to childcare problems.
Based on responses from 2,056 mothers with disabled children across the UK:
- 72% say they cut back or give up work because of childcare problems
- 39% don’t use childcare because it is too expensive
- 82% of those who do use childcare, pay above average (£3.93 per hour2) childcare costs, with 31% paying £11-£20 per hour
- 33% don’t use childcare because the workforce doesn’t have the right experience.
- 92% say finding childcare for disabled children is more difficult compared to non-disabled children.
The childcare affordability trap means families with disabled children can pay 8 times more towards childcare costs compared to other families. When Universal Credit is introduced this could increase to 15 times more (see affordability trap calculation on page 3). This makes work uneconomical and consequently families with disabled children are at greater risk of living in poverty3 and financial hardship.
