Free Childcare for Working Parents
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1. Overview
You may be able to get 30 hours of free childcare a week through the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme.
Your child must be aged 9 months to 4 years old and you must live in England.
There are:
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
The childcare must be provided by a registered provider, such as a registered nursery, playscheme or school. This is known as ‘approved childcare’.
Who can get free childcare
To be eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents, you (and your partner if you have one) will need to be in work or about to start a new job. You (and your partner) will also need to earn over a certain amount.
You’ll need a National Insurance number to apply.
You can use a calculator to check how much help you could get with childcare costs.
When to apply
You can apply for 30 hours of free childcare from when your child is 23 weeks old.
Check the deadlines for applying.
How to apply
To apply, you’ll need to set up a childcare account.
If your application is approved, you’ll get an 11-digit code that proves you’re eligible to get free childcare. You’ll need to give this code to your childcare provider.
To keep getting Free Childcare for Working Parents
You must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months to confirm your details are up to date.
If you already get Free Childcare for Working Parents
You can sign in to your childcare account.
Other help you may be able to get
As well as getting Free Childcare for Working Parents, you may be able to get either:
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will check if you’re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare when you apply for Free Childcare for Working Parents.
You cannot get both Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare at the same time.
2. What you'll get
If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old
You can get 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks.
Check with your childcare provider to find out if taking fewer hours over more weeks is something they offer.
You can search for a childminder or a nursery school place in your area, if you do not already have a childcare provider.
If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support
You can get 30 hours of free childcare through 2 separate schemes if both of the following apply:
- you’re eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents
- you or your child get extra support
You’ll get:
- 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you’ll continue to get these hours even if you are no longer eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents)
- 15 hours per week through Free Childcare for Working Parents
You’ll get these 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year. You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks.
To apply, you need to speak to the early years team or Family Information Service at your local council.
What counts as extra support
You’re classed as getting extra support if any of the following apply:
- you get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
- your child has an Education and Health Care plan
- your child gets Disability Living Allowance
- your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
Things you may be asked to pay for
Although the childcare is free, you may be asked to pay for some extras, such as:
- meals
- nappies
- any additional hours on top of the 30 free hours you can get
- additional activities, such as trips
If you do not want to pay for these extras, your provider should agree to an alternative arrangement. For example, you might be able to provide food for your child instead of paying for meals or bring nappies instead of paying for them.
You can still get the free childcare if you do not pay for any extra costs.
If your provider says you must pay for extras and will not agree to an alternative arrangement, speak to your local council.
3. Check if you're eligible
The amount of free childcare you can get through Free Childcare for Working Parents depends on:
- your child’s age and circumstances
- whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a company director)
- your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
- your immigration status
You will not be eligible if either:
- your child does not usually live with you
- you or your partner’s expected adjusted net income (including any foreign income) is over £100,000 for the current tax year
Your child’s age and circumstances
If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old you can get 30 hours per week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.
If they’re being fostered by you
You can claim Free Childcare for Working Parents as long as:
- you’re in paid work outside your fostering role
- your ‘adjusted net income’ is under £100,000
You cannot use the online application to get free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.
If you’re working or on leave
You can usually get Free Childcare for Working Parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
- in work or starting a new job
- on sick leave or annual leave
- on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
- getting Statutory Neonatal Care Pay
- on Bereaved Partner Paternity Leave
If you’re not currently working
You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer’s leave or if you get any of the following:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Limited Capability for Work Benefit
- contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Your income
You (and your partner, if you have one) must each expect to earn a certain amount over the 3 months after you apply. The amount will depend on your age.
All amounts are before tax.
| Minimum income over the 3 months after you apply | Weekly equivalent | |
|---|---|---|
| Over 21 years | £2,643.68 | £203.36 |
| 18 to 20 years | £2,256.80 | £173.60 |
| Under 18 or an apprentice | £1,664 | £128 |
Example:
If you’re 19 and your partner is 22, the minimum amount you’ll each need to earn will be different. You’ll need to earn at least £2,256.80 and your partner will need to earn at least £2,643.68 over the 3 months after you apply.
This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.
You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:
- you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly
- you’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months
Example
You’re eligible if you’re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £10,574.72 a year. This is the same as earning £2,643.68 every 3 months on average.
If you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago
You can earn less and still be eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents.
If you have more than one job
You can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes:
- earnings from any employment
- earnings from any self-employment
If you’re both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible.
Income that does not count toward your minimum earnings
Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.
These include:
- dividends
- interest
- income from investing in property
- pension payments
Your immigration status
You (and your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number.
The person who applies must also have at least one of the following:
- British or Irish citizenship
- settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision
- permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this
If you are not eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents
You may be able to get other help towards childcare costs.
If your child is between 3 and 4 years old and you live in England, you can get 15 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year.
If you or your child get extra support, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2 year olds.
4. When to apply
Find out when to apply for 30 hours of free childcare.
Check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your free childcare starts.
When to apply for 30 hours of free childcare
You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.
| When your child turns 9 months old | When you can get your hours from | Deadline for applying |
|---|---|---|
| Between 1 September and 31 December | 1 January | 31 December |
| Between 1 January and 31 March | 1 April | 31 March |
| Between 1 April and 31 August | 1 September | 31 August |
When to apply if you’re returning to work after maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave
The date you return to work will affect when you can apply for free childcare.
If you’re on paid annual leave and receiving your salary, this counts as having returned to work.
You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.
| Date of returning to work | When you can get your hours from | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Between 1 October to 31 January | 1 January | 1 September to 31 December |
| Between 1 February to 30 April | 1 April | 1 January to 31 March |
| Between 1 May to 30 September | 1 September | 1 April to 31 August |
If you’re on shared parental leave for the child you’re applying for
You can apply if both parents have either returned or will be returning to work within one month of the start of the autumn, spring or summer term.
This means both parents must have returned or be returning to work by:
- 30 September (for autumn term)
- 31 January (for spring term)
- 30 April (for summer term)
When to apply if you start a new job
You can apply for free childcare if you’re starting a new job. The date you start will affect when you can get free childcare.
You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old.
| Date of starting work | When you can get your hours from | When to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Between 1 October to 31 January | 1 January | 1 September to 31 December |
| Between 1 February to 30 April | 1 April | 1 January to 31 March |
| Between 1 May to 30 September | 1 September | 1 April to 31 August |
5. Apply for free childcare
Use this service to apply for Free Childcare for Working Parents if you live in England.
If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support, you need to contact your local council before applying for Free Childcare for Working Parents. Speak to the early years team or Family Information Service.
If your application is approved, you’ll get an 11-digit code that proves you’re eligible to get free childcare. You’ll need to give this code to your childcare provider.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will check if you’re also eligible for Tax-Free Childcare when you apply for Free Childcare for Working Parents.
If you already get Free Childcare for Working Parents, you can sign in to your childcare account to confirm your details are up to date.
What you need to apply
You’ll need your (and your partner’s, if you have one):
- National Insurance number
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed (if you have a UTR)
You’ll also need:
- the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you’re applying for
- the date you started or are due to start work (this can be approximate if it’s more than 3 months ago)
If you have a partner
You must include your partner in your application if you’re:
- married or in a civil partnership and live together
- not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are
Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:
- are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months
- are a prisoner
You and your partner cannot both have a code for the same child.
If you are separated
You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.
If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and HMRC will decide who gets a childcare code.
If you’re a company director
You’ll need to show you meet the minimum income requirements if you’re a company director. HMRC will try to check this using your PAYE records.
If you do not submit regular PAYE information, you may have to provide evidence to show you are working and expect to meet the minimum income requirements for the next 3 months. This could be:
- wage slips
- bank statements
- a statement from your accountant
- copies of invoices
If you’re not paid regularly (for example, once a year) you may need to send other evidence to show you’ll meet the minimum income requirements. This could include annual wage slips, year-end payroll, or a letter from your tax agent or adviser confirming your salary has been paid and taxed.
You’ll need to do this the first time you apply and every time you reconfirm your eligibility.
Apply
As part of your application you’ll set up a childcare account.
It usually takes 20 minutes to apply.
If you’ve been unable to use the service
You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve had technical problems with your account.
6. After you’ve applied
You’ll usually find out if you’re eligible immediately after applying, but it can sometimes take up to 7 days.
Once your application has been approved
You’ll get an 11-digit code in your childcare account.
HMRC will let you know by text or email that the code is in your account.
Give the code to your provider along with:
- your National Insurance number
- your child’s date of birth
If you have not heard from HMRC
Contact the Childcare Service helpline if you applied more than 7 days ago and you still have not heard from HMRC.
To keep getting Free Childcare for Working Parents
You must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months to confirm you’re still eligible.
If you apply more than 3 months before your childcare starts, you’ll have to reconfirm your eligibility to keep your code valid.
7. Sign in to confirm your details are up to date
To keep getting Free Childcare for Working Parents you must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months and confirm your details are up to date.
You’ll then get an 11-digit code to give to your childcare provider.
You can also use this service to sign in to your Tax-Free Childcare account to:
- pay money into your account
- pay your childcare provider
- apply for an additional child
There’s a different way to sign in to your account if you’re a childcare provider.
Sign in
Sign in to confirm your details are up to date.
If you’re having problems signing in to your account
Contact the Childcare Service helpline if you’re having problems signing in to your childcare account.
If you’ve been unable to use the service
You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve had technical problems with your account.