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The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) is a new scheme that gives a 15% subsidy on childcare costs for working parents.
You can get up to £184 a month off your bill for each child in eligible childcare.
Who is eligible for the NICSS?
In order to be eligible for NICSS:
- You must be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare
- Your child must be under primary school age. From 1 September 2025, NICSS will also be available for children aged 4-11.
- Your childcare provider must have registered with the scheme in order for you to get the subsidy.
Will the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme continue in 2025?
In March 2025 there was an announcement that Northern Ireland’s Childcare Subsidy Scheme will continue in the tax year 2025/26.
The cap on the subsidy also increased by 10%, effective from 1 April 2025. This means that families can now save up to £184 a month per child.
From 1 September 2025, the scheme will be available for primary school-aged children (4-11), rather than only children below school age.
Can I get NICSS as well as Tax-Free Childcare?
You can save money using both the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme and Tax-Free Childcare, as long as your childcare provider has signed up to both.
In this case, you’ll get 15% off your childcare bill through NICSS. You can then pay this bill through your Tax-Free Childcare account, in which the Government will top up the money you put in it by £2 for every £8 you put in.
A report published in May 2025 found that after both NICSS and TFC are applied, the average saving for a child in full-time childcare is £315 a month (based on the average pre-discount cost of £1,054).
How do I apply for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme?
You can apply for NICSS using the online portal. You will first need to check that your childcare provider has signed up from the scheme, and have a reference number from your Tax Free Childcare payments ready.
For full instructions on signing up for NICSS, go to the Early Years website.