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Family Members as childminders

Under the Children (NI) Order 1995 those exempt from registration include ‘..a relative (defined as) (a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, step-parent and by affinity) of the child’.  This means that parents who make the personal choice to leave children with relatives cannot claim financial help with childcare costs through the childcare element of Tax Credits or childcare vouchers.

However, a relative, such as a grandparent for example, can become registered as a childminder so long as they look after at least one other non-related child.  This means that the grandparent’s own grown-up children will also be able to claim financial help with childcare costs through the childcare element of Tax Credits if eligible, or use childcare vouchers.