Exact date Parents can apply for a new 15 hours of free childcare
THOUSANDS of additional parents will be able to apply for free childcare hours later this spring, the government has announced.
Working parents of nine-month-old children can apply for 15 hours of free childcare from May 12, ahead of the rollout in September.
The government encourages parents to register as early as possible so that they can be assured of a place with a provider.
Working parents of two-year-olds will receive 15 hours of free childcare from next month.
Meanwhile, working parents of children aged nine months to three years will have access to 30 hours of free childcare per week from September next year.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Last year we committed to delivering the biggest expansion of childcare England has ever seen.
“And with more than 150,000 children accessing government-funded childcare in just over two weeks, it is clear that our plan is working.
“This government has a strong track record of transforming childcare, with the 30-hour offer for three and four year olds for eligible working parents introduced in 2017. We are now moving forward.”
The move to expand free childcare was announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Statement last year.
It was accompanied by a range of other changes, including that childcare costs for people on Universal Credit would be paid in advance rather than in arrears, marking a major win for The Sun’s Make Universal Credit Work campaign.
How can I apply for free childcare?
You can apply for 15 hours of free childcare through a childcare organization in your area or at your municipality.
Check which municipal area you fall under using the government’s municipality finder.
You can currently apply for 30 hours of free childcare via the government website from the moment your child is two years and 36 weeks old.
After you apply for a childcare account, you will receive a code that you must provide to your provider.
Contact your childcare provider for the exact date your 30 hours of free childcare begins.
Crucially, you must reconfirm your eligibility every three months.
You can check whether you are eligible for free childcare via the Childcare Choices page on the government website.
What other childcare assistance is available?
There are several tax breaks and subsidies designed to help cover childcare costs.
You can usually use them for childcare such as registered childminders, nannies, play equipment, nurseries and holiday clubs.
However, it’s worth checking the government’s childcare cost calculator to find out which scheme will save you the most money, as not everything can be claimed at once.
Free childcare for two-year-olds
Parents living in England who claim one of the benefits below can access a range of free childcare for two-year-olds:
- Income support
- Income-related jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Means-tested Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit (where household income is £15,400 per year or less, after tax, excluding benefits)
- Tax credits (where household income is £16,190 per year or less before tax)
- Pension credit (guaranteed element)
Two-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:
- Are provided by a local government
- Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan in place.
- Receive disability benefits
- Has left care on the basis of an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangement order
You may have to pay for additional costs such as meals, diapers, or outings.
For more information, please contact your childcare organization or municipality.
Tax-free childcare
Those who do not have Universal Credit or Tax Credits may be eligible for tax-free childcare.
You can receive a maximum of €500 per three months for each of your children, with a maximum of €2,000 per year.
If your child is disabled, you can claim more: €1,000 per three months, up to a maximum of €4,000 per year.
Anyone who is eligible can sign up by creating an online childcare account via the government website.
Child benefits
You can receive child benefit if you are responsible for a child under the age of 16, or if the child is under the age of 20 and is in approved education or training.
Child benefit is currently £24 per week for the eldest child or only child, worth £1,248 per year.
For each additional child, parents will receive £15.90 per week – or £826.80 per year.
The money is paid out every four weeks and there is no limit to the number of children you can apply for.
However, be aware that those earning more than £50,000 a year may have to pay back some of their child benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
This will rise to £60,000 from April 6.
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