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Eligibility for 30 hours of free childcare

To qualify for a 30 hours of free childcare, each parent (or sole parent if in a single family) will need to earn:

  • on average, the equivalent of 16 hours a week national minimum or living wage and
  • no more than £100,000 a year.

A family with an annual household income of £199,999 would be eligible if each parent earns just under £100,000.

If you are self employed or on a zero-hour contract, you will be eligible if you meet the average earnings threshold.

You can still be eligible if you usually work but:

  • one or both parents are away from work on statutory sick pay
  • one or both parents are on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

In addition, you are eligible if one parent is employed, but the other:

  • has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits for caring
  • is disabled or incapacitated based on specific benefits.

Parents who work fewer than 16 hours a week

Eligibility is based on income earned, not hours worked. If a parent works for fewer than 16 hours, but in that time, earns more than the equivalent of 16 hours per week at national living wage (or minimum wage for under 25s), they will still be eligible.

All 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds will remain entitled to 15-hours of early education per week during term time, regardless of the employment status of their parent(s).

Your immigration status

To be eligible for free childcare for working parents, you and your partner (if you have one) must have a National Insurance number.

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 you’re waiting for a decision
  • permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this.

If you wish to seek clarification on this, you can contact HMRC Childcare Services helpline on 0300 123 40 97

Check if you are eligible

Use the Childcare Choices website to check if you are eligible for 30-hours of free childcare.

This sets out all current and upcoming childcare offers and support available to parents, including:

  • Tax-Free Childcare scheme
  • 15-and-30-free hours entitlement
  • tax credits
  • universal credit
  • childcare vouchers.

From 1 September, some children in foster care may be eligible for 30 hours however the criteria and the application process are different.

HMRC is responsible for determining who is eligible for the Working Parent Entitlement. Contact HMRC if you have queries about checking your eligibility or if you're experiencing ongoing technical issues by phone on 0300 123 40 97.

If you provide false information about eligibility you can be fined between £300 and £3000.