Who’s behind this?
Childcare Cliff is an independent planning tool for parents comparing adjusted net income, pensions and childcare support.
TODO for owner: add your name or organisation, relevant experience, why you built this site and a contact address. Do not imply a regulated status or professional qualification unless it is accurate.
The calculator runs on your device. It shows assumptions and sources so you can check what is included. It is a planning estimate, not financial or tax advice.
Read how privacy works or return to the calculator.
Sources and assumptions
Each rule has a source and checked date. Editable values, examples and product warning margins are labelled assumptions. Confirm individual eligibility with official guidance.
View every configured rule
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Product warning margin; not a statutory band.
Checked 2026-10-23 · Product advice trigger; not a statutory limit.
Checked 2026-10-23 · Anonymous analytics bucket boundary.
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Annual equivalent for age 21+. Actual test uses expected earnings over three months; exceptions apply. ANI floor here follows the requested simplified model.
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Additional hours at stake; universal hours retained.
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Requested bill-based planning convention: 20% of annual childcare bill, excluding funded hours. Not 20% of deposits into a childcare account.
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Editable valuation assumption, not a funded hourly reimbursement rate.
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Checked 2026-10-23 · Percentage conversion.
Checked 2026-10-23 · Illustrative input.
Checked 2026-10-23 · Illustrative input.
- tax: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-and-allowances-income-tax/income-tax-rates-and-allowances-current-and-past
- ani: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adjusted-net-income
- hours: https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/what-youll-get
- eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare/check-if-youre-eligible
- tfc: https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare
- ni: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters
- cap: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-salary-sacrifice-for-pensions-from-april-2029/changes-to-salary-sacrifice-for-pensions-from-april-2029
- pledge: https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-03/tories-pledge-to-end-100000-childcare-cliff-edge-on-eve-of-conference