One week warning for millions of parents who need to take action to get free childcare
MILLIONS of parents that qualify for free childcare hours need to act urgently if they want to get the benefit in time for the next school term.
The government has confirmed that you need to apply for a childcare code by the end of this month for the free hours to kick in by the time term begins.
That means that if your next term starts in September, you need to apply before the August 31 deadline.
It can take up to one week for eligibility to be confirmed, so even though there are still seven days until the deadline, parents should consider getting applications in today.
This will affect parents whose children reach nine months old between April 1 and August 31 this year. It will also affect those whose children turned three between those dates.
People who returned to work or started a new job (or are planning to do so) between May 1 and September 30 also need to apply by the end of August to get their hours.
Who is eligible for free childcare and how much do I get?
How many free hours you get depends on the age of your child.
If they’re aged between nine months and two years old, you currently get 15 free hours. From ages three to four you get 30 free hours.
To qualify, you need to be in work or on certain benefits. If you’re working, you need to earn over a certain threshold dependent on your age. These are:
- £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over
- £1,788 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20
- £1,331 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice
You need to earn this much for the next three months.
If you’re self-employed and set up your business fewer than 12 months ago you don’t need to meet the thresholds to be eligible for the free hours.
Even if you’re not working, you might still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer’s leave or if you get any of the following benefits:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Limited Capability for Work Benefit
- contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
If either you or your partner earns more than £100,000 a year, you’re excluded from the free hours as outlined above, but you do still get 15 free hours when your child is aged three to four years.
When to apply for free childcare
The deadline for application depends on when your child’s birthday is.
It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to leave it till the last minute, and some childcare providers may ask for your code before the official deadline.
You can apply for the 15 hours of free childcare for a child aged between nine months and two years from when they are 23 weeks old. The latest deadlines for applying are as below.
| When your child reaches nine months old | When you can get free hours from | Application deadline |
| 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January | 31st December |
| 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April | 31st March |
| 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September | 31st August |
You can apply for the 30 hours of free childcare for a three- and four-year-olds from when they are 2 years and 36 weeks old. The latest deadlines for applying are as below.
| Your child’s third birthday | When you can get free hours from | Application deadline |
| 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January | 31st December |
| 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April | 31st March |
| 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September | 31st August |
How to apply for free childcare hours
To apply for your free hours, you’ll need to set up a childcare account.
You’ll need to have various information to hand, including your:
- National Insurance number
- Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed
You’ll also need the UK birth certificate reference number of any children you’re applying for and the date you started or are due to start work.
If you or your partner is a company director, you’ll need to prove that you meet the minimum income requirements, for instance by submitting PAYE information, wage slips, or a statement from your accountant.
If you have a partner you live with, you must include them on your claim, even if you’re not married or in a civil partnership.
If you are separated or divorced, only one parent can put a claim in, even if you have shared care of your child. If you can’t decide, you both apply and HMRC will decide who gets the code.
The government says that it takes just 20 minutes to apply for a code and you might find out straight away if you’re eligible.
However, it cautions that it can take up to seven days, so parents hoping to get free hours from September 1 should get applications in as soon as possible.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code for free childcare to give to your childcare provider.
You will need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months. If you apply more than three months before your hours kick in, you’ll need to reconfirm to keep your code valid.
What help is available to parents for childcare costs?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours of free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week.
To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
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