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Apply for 30 hours of free childcare

You can apply for both the Working Parent Entitlement and Tax-Free Childcare using a single application.

When to apply

You must apply for and receive your new eligibility code for the Working Parent Entitlement before the start of the academic period. You need to apply for and have received your code by:

  • 31 August to start claiming the entitlement in September
  • 31 December to start claiming the entitlement in January
  • 31 March to start claiming the entitlement in April.

If you apply after these dates or receive your code after these dates you will be issued with a start date to access these funded hours the following term.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or experience any technical issues you must contact HMRC’s childcare services helpline on 0300 123 4097 for support and advice. We are unable to help with this.

What you need to apply

To complete the application, you will need to provide details including but not limited to:

  • your name
  • your address
  • your national insurance number
  • information if you expect to meet the income requirements over the next 3 months
  • any benefits you may receive.

If you are eligible, you will be given an 11-digit code that you will need to give to your childcare provider along with your national insurance number and your child’s birth certificate.

To find your code, log in to your childcare service account.

Your childcare provider will check the code is valid using the government’s eligibility checking system. If your code is valid for the term, your childcare provider will be able to claim the funding for you, as long as your child is in attendance in headcount week and you have signed a parental declaration form with them.

Parental declaration form

A parental declaration form informs the childcare provider and us that you wish to claim the funding with them for the full term. Please make sure that you read through this form prior to signing. If you have any questions about this form, please speak to your childcare provider.

Difficulty in applying for the working parent entitlement due to lack of ID?

You can still apply. However, without access to photo ID the process is longer, so you must allow plenty of time before the deadline to make your application.

Parents without photo ID will need to begin the process online as far as they are able to proceed and then contact HMRC’s Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097 for further advice and support.

Parents without photo ID can instead use their UK bank account details and HMRC tax record to prove identity.

A credit check with the company HMRC nominates or via the Post Office is performed. This involves answering security questions online. It can also involve a nominal payment being made to the credit agency which then is deposited back into your personal account.

In addition to the credit check, if necessary, a visit to a local Post Office branch with an in-branch ID identification service may be required. In branch, they will scan any documents you can provide, such as bank statements, utilities bills, payslips, etc. They may also take your photograph.

Alternatively, you can access the Post Office EasyID app which can be used to prove your age and identity throughout the UK. It’s accredited by the UK’s national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS). It’s been approved by the UK Government as proof of identity for things like criminal records checks and proving your Right to Work when starting a new job and also including an application for the working parent entitlement.

There is help and support available for setting up the app if required, along with FAQs.

If you encounter any problems when applying for the working parent entitlement, or if you wish to confirm if you meet the criteria for this funding, please contact HMRC’s childcare service helpline for support and advice on 0300 123 4097.