Get free childcare if you're working
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1. Overview
You may be able to get free childcare if your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old and you live in England.
There are:
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Ìý
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
You can get up to 30 hours of free childcare a week.
The childcare must be provided by a registered provider, such as a registered nursery, playscheme or school. This is known as 바카라 사이트˜approved childcare바카라 사이트™.
Who can get free childcare
To be eligible for free childcare, you (and your partner, if you have one) need to be in work or about to start a new job and earn over a certain amount.
You바카라 사이트™ll need a National Insurance number to apply.Ìý
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 applyÌý
To apply you바카라 사이트™ll need to set up a childcare account.Ìý
If your application is approved, you바카라 사이트™ll get an 11-digit code that proves you바카라 사이트™re eligible to get free childcare. You바카라 사이트™ll need to give this code to your childcare provider.
If you바카라 사이트™re already getting 15 hours of free childcare
You바카라 사이트™ll automatically get 30 hours of free childcare from September, as long as you바카라 사이트™re still eligible. You바카라 사이트™ll need to confirm your details are up to date in the usual way and give the code to your childcare provider.
Confirm your details are correct
To keep getting free childcare, you must confirm your details are up to date by signing in to your childcare account every 3 months.
Other help you may be able to get
As well as getting free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re working, you may be able to get either:
HMRC will check if you바카라 사이트™re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare when you apply for free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re working.
You cannot get both Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare at the same time.Ìý
2. What you'll get
The number of hours of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child.
If your child is aged 9 months to 2 years old
Children aged 9 months to 2 years old currently get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours per week. As the deadline for applying for 15 hours of free childcare has passed, you바카라 사이트™ll now be applying for 30 hours instead.
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 this is something they offer.
If you바카라 사이트™re already getting 15 hours of free childcare
You바카라 사이트™ll automatically get 30 hours of free childcare from September, as long as you바카라 사이트™re still eligible. You바카라 사이트™ll need to confirm your details are up to date in the usual way and give the code to your 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:ÌýÌý
- you바카라 사이트™re eligible for free childcare for working parentsÌý
- you or your child get extra support
From September 2025 you바카라 사이트™ll get:Ìý
- 15 hours per week through free childcare for working parentsÌý
- 15 hours per week if you or your child get extra support (you바카라 사이트™ll continue to get these hours even if you바카라 사이트™re no longer eligible for free childcare for working parents)
You바카라 사이트™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.Ìý
What counts as extra support
You바카라 사이트™re classed as getting extra support if any of the following apply:Ìý
- 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
If your child is 3 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 this is something they offer.
Things you may have to pay for
Although the childcare is free, you may have to pay for some extra costs, such as:
- meals
- nappies
- additional hours
- additional activities, such as trips
Your provider should not charge you a non-refundable registration fee or any top-up fees to cover the cost of your free childcare.
Ask your provider what extra costs you will have to pay for.
3. Check if you're eligible
The amount of free childcare you can get depends on:
- your child바카라 사이트™s age and circumstances
- whether you바카라 사이트™re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
- your income (and your partner바카라 사이트™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 have an expected adjusted net income of over £100,000 in the current tax year
Your child바카라 사이트™s age and circumstances
The number of hours of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child.
If your child is 9 months to 2 years old
Children aged 9 months to 2 years old currently get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours per week.
If your child is 3 to 4 years old
You can get 30 hours per week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.
If they바카라 사이트™re being fostered by you
You can claim free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re working as long as:
- you바카라 사이트™re in paid work outside your fostering roleÌý
- your 바카라 사이트˜adjusted net income바카라 사이트™ 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 you바카라 사이트™re working
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
If you바카라 사이트™re not currently working
You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer바카라 사이트™s leave or if you get any of the following:Ìý
- Incapacity BenefitÌý
- Severe Disablement AllowanceÌý
- Carer바카라 사이트™s AllowanceÌý
- Limited Capability for Work BenefitÌý
- contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Your income
Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:
- £2,539 before tax if you바카라 사이트™re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195 per week)
- £2,080 before tax if you바카라 사이트™re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week)
- £1,570 before tax if you바카라 사이트™re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120 per week)
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
- you바카라 사이트™re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months
Example
You바카라 사이트™re eligible if you바카라 사이트™re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £10,158 a year. This is the same as earning £2,539 every 3 months on average.
If you바카라 사이트™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 you바카라 사이트™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.Ìý
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 you바카라 사이트™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 claim certain benefits, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2-year-olds under a separate scheme.
4. When to apply
Check when to apply for 30 hours of free childcare.
As the deadline for applying for 15 hours of free childcare has passed, you바카라 사이트™ll now be applying for 30 hours instead.
If you바카라 사이트™re already getting 15 hours of free childcare, you바카라 사이트™ll automatically get 30 hours from September as long as you바카라 사이트™re still eligible. You바카라 사이트™ll need to confirm your details are up to date in the usual way and give the code to your childcare provider.
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 oldÌý | 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 |
바카라 사이트‹When to apply if you바카라 사이트™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.Ìý
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 you바카라 사이트™re on shared parental leave for the child you바카라 사이트™re applying for
You can apply if one of you goes back to work within one month of the start of the autumn, spring or summer term. This means one of you must return by:
- 30 September
- 31 JanuaryÌý
- 30 AprilÌý
The other parent can then remain on parental leave until a later date.
When to apply if you start a new job
You can apply for free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re starting a new job. The date you start will affect when you can get free childcare.Ìý
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.
If you apply more than 31 days before you start your new job, you need to contact the Childcare Service helpline for help with your application.
| 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 if you바카라 사이트™re working and 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, you바카라 사이트™ll get an 11-digit code that proves you바카라 사이트™re eligible to get free childcare. You바카라 사이트™ll need to give this code to your childcare provider.
HMRC will check if you바카라 사이트™re eligible for Tax-Free Childcare when you apply for free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re working.
What you need to apply
You바카라 사이트™ll need your (and your partner바카라 사이트™s, if you have one):
- National Insurance number
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you바카라 사이트™re self-employed (if you have a UTR)
You바카라 사이트™ll also need:
- the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) of any children you바카라 사이트™re applying for
- the date you started or are due to start work (this can be approximate if it바카라 사이트™s more than 3 months ago)
If you바카라 사이트™re a director
You바카라 사이트™ll need to show you meet the minimum income requirements to be eligible. HM Revenue and Customs (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 you바카라 사이트™re not paid regularly (for example, once a year) you may need to send other evidence to show you바카라 사이트™ll meet the minimum income requirements, such as:
- annual wage slips
- year end payroll
- a letter from your tax agent or adviser confirming your salary has been paid and taxed
You바카라 사이트™ll need to do this the first time you apply, and every time you reconfirm your eligibility.
If you have a partner
You must include your partner in your application if you바카라 사이트™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 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will decide who gets a childcare code.
Apply
To apply you바카라 사이트™ll need to set up a childcare account.
It usually takes 20 minutes to apply.
If you바카라 사이트™ve been unable to use the service
You may be able to claim compensation if you바카라 사이트™ve had technical problems with your account.
After you바카라 사이트™ve applied
You바카라 사이트™ll usually find out if you바카라 사이트™re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.
Once your application has been approved
You바카라 사이트™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 child바카라 사이트™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.
Reconfirming your eligibility
To keep getting free childcare, you must reconfirm your eligibility by signing in to your childcare account every 3 months.
If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, you바카라 사이트™ll have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account in order to keep your code valid.
6. Confirm your details are up to date
To keep getting free childcare if you바카라 사이트™re working you must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months and confirm your details are up to date.
You바카라 사이트™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 a new child
There바카라 사이트™s a different way to sign in to your account if you바카라 사이트™re a childcare provider.
Sign in
Sign in to confirm your details are up to date.
If you바카라 사이트™ve been unable to use the service
You may be able to claim compensation if you바카라 사이트™ve had technical problems with your account.