England – Free childcare for children aged 9-months to 4-years old

This free childcare scheme is available to families on certain low income benefits or who have a child with additional needs. In order to be eligible for the free childcare for your 2-year-old, you must either be in receipt of a qualifying benefit or your 2-year-old child must fit into one of the categories of children who have additional needs.

The qualifying benefits are:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit – if you and your partner are on a low income from work (this usually means a combined income no more than £15,400 a year after tax)
• Child Tax Credit and your family have an annual income of no more than £16,190 before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Note: If you do not qualify for the benefits above because you are subject to immigration control, you may still qualify for 15 hours free childcare. You must still be on a low income (see FAQ below).

Even if you are not receiving a qualifying benefit your 2-year-old can still get free childcare if any of the following apply:

• they’re looked after by a local council
• they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• they get Disability Living Allowance
• they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
• you can’t claim benefits because of your asylum seeker status or a no recourse to public funds condition. This only applies in specific circumstances – see FAQ below.

How do I apply?

Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out how to apply or if you need further guidance.

This scheme is universal and open to all 3 and 4-year olds. There are no earnings or work requirements and you don’t need to be claiming any benefits to get the free childcare.

You should be able to start receiving the childcare from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday.

How do I apply?

Contact your childcare provider or local council if you need further guidance on how to apply for the free childcare.

If you are working you may be entitled to free childcare. The amount of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child.

If your child is:

• 9-months old you can get 15 hours of free childcare from September 2024, and 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025
• 2-years-old you can get 15 hours of free childcare from April 2024, and 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025
• 3 to 4-years-old you can get 30 hours of free childcare

To be eligible for 15/30 hours free childcare you and your partner must each meet the work and earnings requirements unless an exception applies. Your partner means someone you are married to, in a civil partnership with or live with as a couple.

What are the work and earnings requirements?

To meet the work and earnings requirements if you are claiming as a single parent you must:

• Work and earn, or expect to earn over the next 3 months, at least the equivalent of working 16 hours per week at national minimum or living wage (depending on your age); and
• Not have an adjusted net income exceeding £100,000 for the tax year

If you are claiming as a couple:

• You must both work and earn, or expect to earn over the next 3 months, at least the equivalent of working 16 hours per week at national minimum or living wage (depending on your age) unless an exception applies; and
• Neither of you must have an individual adjusted net income exceeding £100,000 for the tax year

What are the exceptions?

In certain specified circumstances you do not have to meet the work and earnings requirements.

These are:

• During periods of ‘specified leave’, which means maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption, parental, parental bereavement or carer’s leave; or
• If you are in receipt of statutory pay for any of the above (e.g. Statutory Maternity Allowance), or Maternity Allowance or Statutory Sick Pay

Self-employed parents who are not legally entitled to the above leave or pay, but would be if they were employed are also exempt from meeting the minimum earnings requirement.

However, you are only exempt from meeting the minimum earnings requirement if you are on specified leave (other than parental bereavement leave, carer’s leave or receiving Statutory Sick Pay) if you are returning to work by the end of the month in which the term begins, if you are seeking the free childcare for the child you are on specified leave for.

The following table shows the date you are entitled to your free hours for the child you are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave in respect of, based on the date you return to work:

You will still be entitled to free childcare for an older child during periods on maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave regardless of the date you return to work. For example, you will be entitled to free childcare for your 3 year old throughout your maternity leave period for a new baby. But will only become eligible for free childcare for the new baby the term after they turn 9 months old, subject to the date you return to work.

If you are claiming as a couple, provided your partner meets the work and earnings requirements, or is exempt due to one of the above conditions, you, as the partner, do not have to meet the work and earnings requirements if any of the following apply:

• You have limited capability for work (assessed by the DWP)
• You have limited capability for work and work-related activity (assessed by the DWP)
• You are entitled to a ‘specified benefit’
• You are a resident of an EEA state or Switzerland and are in receipt of a benefit from that state which is substantially similar to a ‘specified benefit’

The ‘specified benefits’ are:

• Universal Credit that includes a carer element
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer’s Assistance
• Credits for incapacity for work or limited capability for work under any of the following:
  1. the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975
  2. the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975
  3. Employment and Support Allowance
  4. Incapacity Benefit
  5. long-term Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance

Are there any exceptions if I’m self-employed?

If you are ‘newly self-employed’ you will get a start-up period where you do not have to meet the minimum earnings requirement for the first 12 months of your claim. Being ‘newly self-employed’ means that you began your current self-employment within the past 12 months, and you have not commenced any other self-employment (even if in a different profession or field of work) within the 5 years immediately prior to your current self-employment.

If you are self-employed and paid irregularly, you may be able to average your earnings over the tax year (you usually have to show you meet the requirements over a rolling 3-month period).

Are there any other eligibility requirements?

Yes, these are that your child must reach the relevant age before the term in which the childcare begins, and you must seek the free childcare to enable you to work.

The term start dates are 1st September, 1st January and 1st April each year.

You and your partner must not expect your individual adjusted net income to exceed £100,000 in the tax year in which you are applying for the free childcare.

When can I apply?

You must apply before the start of the term in which your child reaches the relevant age.

For 15 hours free childcare for 9-month olds this means that your child must have reached 9-months old on or before 31 August 2024. The free childcare will begin in the term starting 1 September 2024. If your child does not turn 9-months old until on or after 1 September 2024, provided they will be 9-months old on or before 31 December 2024, you will be eligible for the free childcare the term beginning on 1 January 2025.

For 15 hours free childcare for 2-year-olds this means that your child must have reached the age of 2 on or before 31 March 2024. The free childcare will begin in the term starting 1 April 2024. If you have not yet applied for the free childcare, it will not start until the term after you apply. So, even if your child was 2 prior to 1 April 2024, you will not be able to now take up your free childcare place for them until the term starting on 1 September 2024. If your child turns 2 anytime between 1 April and 31 August 2024 you will be eligible for the free childcare the term beginning on 1 September 2024. If your child turns 2 between 1 September and 31 December 2024 you will be eligible for your free childcare place from the term starting on 1 January 2025.

For 30 hours free childcare for 3 to 4-year-olds you will be eligible from the start of the term after your child turns 3. If your child is currently 2 you will be eligible for the increase from 15 hours for 2-year-olds to 30 hours for 3 to 4-year-olds beginning the term after they turn 3.

It is recommended that you apply well in advance of the term start date. This is because HMRC (who administer the scheme) need to verify the details of your claim and check your eligibility. Once they have done this they will issue you with a code which you must give to your childcare provider. Your childcare provider may require the code a few weeks in advance of the term start date in order to ensure you get your free childcare place. HMRC recommend that you apply at least six weeks in advance of the deadline date, which is the last day of the month immediately before the start of the term.

The recommended times for applying are as follows:

You can apply outside of these recommended times, however, HMRC cannot guarantee that they will complete their verification and eligibility checks in time if you apply later than the recommended date. This may mean that you do not receive your eligibility code in time.

How do I apply?

How to apply

To apply you will need to open up a childcare account online. You will need your National Insurance number. If you’re self-employed, you’ll also need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). You’ll also need your child’s birth certificate reference number (if you have one) and the date you started or are due to start work (this can be approximate if you started more than 3 months ago).

Click here to go to the childcare application portal to apply for the free childcare.

If you need help to apply or have any questions about the application process we recommend that you contact the Childcare Service Helpline on 0300 123 4097. Working Families cannot advise you on any issues you may be experiencing with your application.

Reconfirmation

You need to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months. If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts you will need to reconfirm your eligibility in order to keep your code valid.

HMRC will send you a reminder up to 28 days before the end of your current 3-month entitlement period. It is important that you reconfirm in time in order to retain your entitlement to the free childcare.

Government funded early education and childcare is not a ‘public fund’ for immigration purposes, so can be accessed by a child regardless of their immigration status. However, some schemes have eligibility requirements relating to the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families. 

15 hours education and childcare for 2-year-olds (families on certain low income benefits or children with additional needs)

If you are on a visa with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), you are likely to be restricted from receiving a qualifying benefit because most of them are considered ‘public funds’.

Parents with certain types of NRPF visas can access 15 hours free childcare for their 2-year-old child. To be eligible, you must have one of the following types of immigration statuses:

1. Zambrano carer (derivative right to reside in the UK under European law as the primary carer of a British child or dependent adult).
2. Leave to remain with NRPF granted on family or private life (Article 8) grounds.
3. You have claimed asylum in the UK, you are waiting for a decision and you are getting support from the Home Office (‘Part 6’ support).
4. ‘Appeal rights exhausted’ (ARE) asylum seeker receiving asylum support from the Home Office under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If you meet conditions 1 or 2 above, you must also be on a low income to qualify. The income thresholds are set out on gov.uk.

You can also apply if your child if your child:

• is looked after by a local council
• has a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• gets Disability Living Allowance
• has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

15 hours for 3 and 4-year olds (universal entitlement)

If you are not allowed to receive public funds due to your immigration status, you can still use 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds.

15 hours per week of free childcare is universal for all children aged 3 to 4 years old. Children can benefit regardless of their, or their parent’s, immigration status. 

Contact your childcare provider or local council if you need further guidance.

15/30 hours for children aged 9-months to 4-years olds (working parents)

You may not be able to apply for 15/30 hours free childcare for children aged 9-months to 4-years old. The parent who applies for 15/30 free hours will need to meet a residence requirement. In order to meet the requirement, the parent applying must have one of the following:

• British or Irish citizenship
• Settled or pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
• A pending EU Settlement Scheme application
• Immigration permission that allows access to public funds, such as indefinite leave to remain or refugee leave

A parent who has NRPF will not meet the residence requirement. In two-parent households, at least one parent on the application will need to meet the residence requirement. If a single parent or both parents in a household have NRPF, the family will be unable to access 30 hours childcare.

For more information on eligibility for any of the free childcare schemes see the No Recourse to Public Funds Network website.

15 hours education and childcare for 2-year-olds (families on certain low income benefits or children with additional needs)

Once you have been accepted for 15 hours free childcare for 2-year-olds, your child will continue to receive free childcare even if you have a change of circumstances, such as an increase in income or no longer qualifying for benefits.

15/30 hours for children aged 9-months to 4-years old (working parents)

A change in circumstances may affect your eligibility for 15/30 hours free childcare. In order to be eligible, you must apply for a code to give to your childcare provider. Codes expire after three months, so you must reconfirm your eligibility to obtain a new code which means you must continue to earn or expect to earn enough to satisfy the earnings requirement.

If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for 15/30 free hours when it comes time to reconfirm, you will be given a grace period. This is a short period of time for you to be able to get back to eligibility, and your child will retain their 15/30 hour placement.

If after the end of the grace period, you are still not eligible for 15/30 free hours, remember your child will still be entitled to the universal 15 free hours if they are 3 to 4. You can apply for 15/30 free hours again in the future if you become eligible.

If you have questions about reconfirmation and grace periods, speak to the Childcare Service Helpline.

All free childcare schemes stop when your child reaches the compulsory school age and starts in reception class (not when they turn 5).

A child is required to start reception on the 31 March, 31 August or 31 December after their 5th birthday. This will be the same day that they stop being eligible for 15/30 free hours.

Contact your childcare provider or local council if you need further guidance.

You are not usually able to use the 15/30 free hours scheme for working parents if either you or your partner have an individual adjusted net income exceeding £100,000 for the tax year in which you are applying for the free childcare. You will still be entitled to the universal 15 hours scheme for all 3-4 year olds though.

You will still be eligible for 15/30 free hours childcare for working parents if your combined income is greater than £100,000, as long as individually neither of you earn greater than that amount.

You can find information on working out your adjusted net income on gov.uk.

Issues around adjusted net income are a tax matter and are not something Working Families can advise on. If you need advice on working out your adjusted net income including how receiving a bonus from work or paying extra into a pension affects your adjusted net income we recommend that you contact HMRC or speak to an accountant. The Childcare Service Helpline may also be able to answer any questions you have.  

Yes, you will still be treated as meeting the earnings requirement for 15/30 free hours childcare if you or your partner are on ‘specified leave’. ‘Specified leave’ means:

• Periods on maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption, parental or parental bereavement leave; or
• Periods you are receiving statutory pay for any of the above (e.g. Statutory Maternity Allowance), or Maternity Allowance or Statutory Sick Pay

Self-employed parents who are not legally entitled to the above leave or pay, but would be if they were employed are also treated as meeting the minimum earnings requirement.

However, you are only exempt from meeting the minimum earnings requirement if you are on specified leave (other than parental bereavement leave, carer’s leave or receiving Statutory Sick Pay) if you are returning to work by the end of the month in which the term begins, if you are seeking the free childcare for the child you are on specified leave for.

The following table shows the date you are entitled to your free hours for the child you are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave in respect of, based on the date you return to work:

You will still be entitled to free childcare for an older child during periods on maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave regardless of the date you return to work. For example, you will be entitled to free childcare for your 3 year old throughout your maternity leave period for a new baby. But will only become eligible for free childcare for the new baby the term after they turn 9 months old, subject to the date you return to work.

If you are a single parent you must meet the work and earnings requirement to be eligible for free childcare for working parents.

If you are claiming as a couple and one of you meets the work and earnings requirement but one of you is unable to work because you have a disability or you are a carer, then you will be exempt from the earnings requirement if any of the following apply:

• You have limited capability for work (assessed by the DWP)
• You have limited capability for work and work-related activity (assessed by the DWP)
• You are entitled to a ‘specified benefit’
• You are a resident of an EEA state or Switzerland and are in receipt of a benefit from that state which is substantially similar to a ‘specified benefit’

The ‘specified benefits’ are:

• Universal Credit that includes a carer element
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer’s Assistance
• Credits for incapacity for work or limited capability for work under any of the following:
  1. the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975
  2. the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975
  3. Employment and Support Allowance
  4. Incapacity Benefit
  5. long-term Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance

Yes. To be eligible for 15/30 hours free childcare, you and your partner must be working (either employed or self-employed) and each expect to earn (on average) the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at national minimum or living wage (depending on your age).

This earnings requirement will not apply if your partner is self-employed and started their business less than 12 months ago.

If your partner is self-employed and does not expect to make enough profit in the next 3 months to meet the earnings threshold, they may be able to use an average of how much they expect to make over the current tax year.

HMRC may penalise you if you are careless or dishonest when you apply for or reconfirm your eligibility for 15/30 hours free childcare. However, there is no penalty if you genuinely expect to earn the required amount, but are not able to.

You can usually still get 15/30 hours free childcare if you are on paid sick leave, either paid by your employer or on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Normally, HMRC treat those on sick leave as in work.

If you have further questions about reconfirmation and eligibility while on sick leave, speak to the government helpline.

Yes, as long as you meet the earnings threshold. To be eligible for 15/30 hours free childcare for your 9-month to 4-year-old child, you, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at national minimum or living wage (depending on your age).

No. If you are due to start work (or return to work) within the next 31 days, you can apply for 15/30 free hours as long as you expect to earn on average the equivalent of working 16 hours on the national minimum wage.

To receive 15/30 hours free childcare you will need to apply online through gov.uk. After registering for an account, you will get a code that you can take to your childcare provider. You need to apply before the term starts or you will have wait until the beginning of the next term. There is a government helpline if you need help with this.

HMRC manages the application process and sends out reminders to parents about the need to reconfirm their eligibility for 15/30 free hours childcare every three months.

If you miss the reconfirmation deadline, you should receive a message telling you that you are no longer eligible for 15/30 hours childcare. You should be given a ‘grace period’ so that your child can continue with their free place for a short period of time.

If you are still eligible for 15/30 free hours, you can make a new application for 15/30 hours. If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for the additional 15 hours of free childcare, you can still access the 15-hour universal entitlement if your child is 3 or 4.

If you have questions about reconfirmation and grace periods, speak to the government helpline.

Each childcare provider has a different approach to the government scheme, and how the free hours are used are typically down to your agreement with them. If you have an issue, you should speak to your childcare provider or your local council.

The 15 hours entitlement is usually taken over 38 weeks of the year. With the agreement of your childcare provider, you can use the hours in term time only or stretch the hours over more than 38 weeks. If you stretch the hours out over 52 weeks, you will be entitled to 11 hours per week.

Similarly with 30 hours entitlement, it can be taken over 38 weeks or stretched to cover the whole year depending on what your childcare provider offers. If you stretch the entitlement, you would receive 22 free hours per week.

The statutory limits say that you can claim a maximum of 10 hours on one day. The minimum is 3 hours in one day.

Some childcare providers are flexible in their approach, and others require you to use the free hours in a particular way (e.g. in a set number of full days or half days). This is typically down to your agreement with them.

Whether you are receiving 15 or 30 hours free childcare you are still free to use other childcare schemes in addition to your free entitlement.

This means that if you use 15 or 30 hours free but still pay for additional childcare you can get help with the extra costs through working tax credits, universal credit, tax-free childcare or employer childcare vouchers.