Multiple outlets report that a frozen income threshold for childcare support is reducing eligibility for families and cutting support payments. The Department for Education estimates that, in the last tax year, between 50,500 and 99,000 children are affected by the earnings limit. The coverage says the freeze contributes to an estimated loss of £874 million in childcare support for parents during the period. The reporting links the change in outcomes to the fact that eligibility thresholds are not adjusted for earnings growth, meaning more families move above the limit and no longer qualify for support. The figure of affected children is presented as a range, reflecting uncertainty in the estimate. Overall, the articles describe the policy impact as a significant reduction in childcare assistance driven by the earnings threshold remaining unchanged.