30 hours free childcare is part of a government scheme that allows eligible parents to receive 30 hours free childcare per week in England. There are similar schemes in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Many parents aren’t sure if they are eligible, or what the scheme entails, so here’s a quick rundown on the 30 hours free childcare scheme.
Rules Of The 30 Hours Free Childcare
There are a few rules to the scheme.
- You must live in England.
- Your child must be between 3 and 4 years old.
- You must use an approved childcare provider.
- Childcare must stop when your child starts reception class or reaches compulsory school age.
You can apply online, and if you’re eligible you’ll be given a code for the free 30 hours to give to your childcare provider.
How To Use The 30 Hours Free Childcare
You can use 30 hours of childcare per week for 38 weeks, during the school term time. Alternatively, you may be able to use less hours, but have childcare for 52 weeks. However, not all childcare providers offer this, so you would need to check to see if yours does.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the 30 hours free childcare scheme depends on:
- Your employment status
- Your income (if you have a partner, their income is considered as well)
- Your child’s age
- Your immigration status
You may be able to claim free childcare as well as Universal Credit, tax credits, Tax-Free Childcare, or childcare vouchers.
Working Parents
Working parents may be able to get free childcare if they are working, on sick leave, on annual leave, on shared parental, maternity, or paternity leave, or on adoption leave. If you have adopted a child aged 3 or 4 years old, you can apply for the scheme, but you must return to work within 31 days of the date of your application.
One Working Parent
If you or your partner is working, but the other is not, you may still be eligible if you are receiving Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, or Carer’s Allowance. You can also apply if you’re starting work, or restarting work within 31 days of the date of your application.
Your Income
Your eligibility depends on your income. You’ll need to earn at least the National Minimum Wage, or the Living Wage for 16 hours a week over the next three months. If you have a partner, they will also need to earn at least the minimum wage for 16 hours a week over the next three months.
If you’re self-employed and may not meet the minimum income in the three-month period, you may be able to use an average over the current tax year. The earning limit also doesn’t apply if you’ve started your business less than 12 months ago.
If your expected adjusted net income is over £100,000 in the current tax year, you won’t be eligible.
Excluded Incomes
There are some types of income which are excluded, and therefore not counted towards the minimum earning limit. These include any dividends, interest, investment income from property, and pension payments.
Approved Childcare Providers
You must use an approved childcare provider. This includes a registered childminder, registered nanny, a playscheme, nursery, or club. You may also use a childminder or nanny from a registered childcare or childminder agency, a registered school, or a home care worker from a registered home care agency. You can find a list of approved childcare providers from Ofsted, or the list of registered childcare agencies online.
Your Child
Your child must usually live with you for you to be eligible. If your child usually lives elsewhere, you will not be eligible.
If you are fostering your child, you can still apply for the 30 hours free childcare scheme by speaking to your social worker and the local authority. You will not be able to apply through the online service.
Your Immigration Status
You, or your partner, must have a National Insurance number to be eligible, and at least one of the following:
- British or Irish Citizenship
- Settled status, or an application awaiting a decision
- Pre-settled status, or an application awaiting a decision
- Permission to access public funds (your UK residence card will have this information)
When To Apply For 30 Hours Free Childcare
You can apply whenever your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old. As a guide:
If your child turns 3 between 1st September and 31st December, they can get 30 hours free childcare from the school term starting on, or after, 1st January. You should apply from 15th October and before 30th November.
If your child turns 3 between 1st January to 31st March, they can get 30 hours free childcare from the school term starting on, or after, 1st April. You should apply from 15th January and before 28th February.
If your child turns 3 between 1st April to 31st August, they can get 30 hours free childcare from the school term starting on, or after, 1st September. You should apply from 15th June and before 31st July.
You can submit your application outside of these dates, but you may not receive your childcare code in time. You need to have a valid code by the end of the month before the start of a new term.
If you are unsure of the start dates, you can check with your chosen childcare provider.
You will have to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months, to keep your code valid. This means that if you apply more than 3 months before the start term, then you will need to reconfirm to keep your code valid.
Applying For 30 Hours Free Childcare
You can apply online for the 30 hours free childcare scheme, except in specific circumstances, such as in the case of fostering a child.
If you apply for 30 hours free childcare, but someone else is already claiming the Tax-Free childcare scheme for the same child, then your application will be rejected.
If you live with a partner, you must include them in your application. However, their employment and income will not be considered if they are, or will be, living elsewhere for more than 6 months, or are in prison.
Two parents cannot have accounts for the same child. There can only be one account for that child. If you are separated, you should decide which of you will be applying for the free childcare. If you can’t decide, you can submit two separate applications, and HMRC will decide which application is successful.
Successful Applications For 30 Hours Free Childcare
If your application is successful, you’ll be given a code. You will give the code to your childcare provider.
