How to claim up to 30 hours of free childcare in England

More than 1.7 million parents in England are now using government-funded childcare hours, according to Department for Education (DfE) figures. But some parents say they are still being asked to pay compulsory fees, even though childcare hours themselves are supposed to be free.

Under current government guidance, childcare providers can charge for extras such as meals, snacks, nappies and optional activities. But these charges must be optional and cannot be required in order to parents to access a funded childcare place.

Earlier this year, the guidance was tightened to ban non-refundable deposits and registration fees. Despite this, complaints from parents are continuing. Reports in the Sun suggest the government could announce further action next week, including a review of charging practices across the childcare sector.

Who can get 30 hours of free childcare?

You may be eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare a week through the free childcare for working parents scheme if:

• your child is aged between 9 months and 4 years old
• you live in England
• you, and your partner if you have one, are working or about to start a job
• you both earn above the minimum income threshold

You can apply from the point your child is 23 weeks old.

What you’ll need to apply

To apply, you’ll need:

• a national insurance number
• to set up a childcare account
• details about your income and employment

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an 11-digit eligibility code. You must give this code to your childcare provider to access the funded hours.

How to keep receiving free childcare

Once approved, you must reconfirm your details every three months through your childcare account. If you don’t renew your eligibility, your funded childcare may stop.

Eligibility rules explained

The amount of childcare support you can receive depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• your employment status
• your income, and your partner’s income, if applicable
• your immigration status

You will not qualify if:

• your child doesn’t usually live with you
• you or your partner expect to earn more than £100,000 this tax year

If you’re not currently working

You could still qualify if your partner is working and you are on carer’s leave, or if you receive certain benefits, including:

• incapacity benefit
• severe disablement allowance
• carer’s allowance
• limited capability for work benefit
• contribution-based employment and support allowance

Struggling with debt as costs rise?

If you’re already behind on bills or worried about making ends meet, support is available. As well as helping you find a suitable debt solution, we can also carry out a benefits entitlement check to make sure you’re receiving all the help you’re entitled to.