If you’re a working parent with children who haven’t reached school age yet, childcare costs can add up quickly. This is where the government’s support can make a big difference. Under the UK government’s Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme, you may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week.
30 Hours Free Childcare at a Glance: Key Facts
- From September 2025, your child must be aged 9 months to 4 years old.
- You must live in England. There are different schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- The childcare must be ‘approved’, i.e. provided by a registered nursery, playscheme or school.
What is the Free Childcare for Working Parents Scheme?
The Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme is a UK government initiative that provides eligible parents with 30 hours of free, funded childcare per week for children aged between 9 months and 4 years. Here’s a full breakdown of what you’ll get depending on your child’s age and your circumstances:
- If your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old: You’ll get 30 hours of free childcare across 38 weeks of the year (during school term-time). Some childcare providers may offer to “stretch” these hours over more weeks by providing fewer hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this option is available.
- If your child is 2 to 3 years old and you get extra support: If you or your child gets extra support*, you’ll get 30 hours of free childcare from two separate schemes. This includes 15 hours of support from the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme and 15 hours if you receive any of the additional benefits listed below.
*What counts as extra support?
- You get Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 per year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
- Your child has an Education and Health Care plan
- Your child gets Disability Living Allowance
- Your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order
What are the 30 Hours Free Childcare Eligibility Criteria?
The 30 hours of free childcare eligibility criteria depend on:
- Your child’s age and circumstances
- Whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
- Your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
- Your immigration status
You will not be eligible for the scheme if:
- Your child does not usually live with you
- You or your partner has an expected adjusted net income (total taxable income before any Personal Allowances and less certain tax reliefs) of over £100,000 in the current tax year
Below is a full breakdown of the eligibility criteria.
Your child’s age & circumstances
If your child is aged between 9 months and 4 years, you may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
If they’re being fostered by you, you are still eligible. As long as:
- You’re doing paid work outside of your fostering role
- Your adjusted net income is under £100,000
Your employment status
You may be eligible for free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
- Employed or starting a new job
- On sick leave or annual leave
- On shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
If you aren’t currently working, you may still be eligible if your partner is working and you are on carer’s leave, or if you receive any of the following allowances:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Limited Capability for Work Benefit
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Your income
You are eligible for the scheme if you (and your partner, if you have one) are earning at least the following amounts over the next 3 months:
- If you’re under 18 or an apprentice: £1,570.40 before tax (equivalent to £120.80 per week)
- If you’re 18-20: £2,080 before tax (equivalent to £160 per week)
- If you’re 21 or over: £2,539.68 before tax (equivalent to £195.36 per week)
You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:
- You work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly
- You’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months
Your immigration status
You must have a National Insurance number to be eligible for the scheme. This also applies to your partner, if you have one. The person who applies must also have 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 don’t)
How to Apply for 30 Hours Free Childcare
You can apply for the 30 hours of free childcare scheme online via gov.uk. Here’s what you need to know:
- If your child is 2-3 years old and you get extra support (e.g. Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, etc): You need to contact your local council before applying. Speak to the early years team or Family Information Service.
- If you already have a childcare account: Sign in to confirm your details are up to date.
- If your application is approved: You’ll get an 11-digit code that proves you’re eligible for free childcare. HMRC will also check your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare when you apply.
- Keep your account updated: To keep receiving free childcare after a successful application, you must confirm your details are up to date by signing in to your account every 3 months.
You’ll need a National Insurance number to apply. Make sure you don’t miss the deadlines for applying.
What If I’m Not Eligible for 30 Hours Free Childcare?
If you do not fit the eligibility criteria for the 30 hours free childcare scheme, there are other government initiatives out there designed to help working families with children:
- Tax-free childcare
- 15 hours of free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds (for 38 weeks of the year) if you live in England
- Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds if you claim certain benefits
Struggling to Make Ends Meet?
For families with young children, it isn’t just childcare that causes money worries. School uniforms, meals, half-term activities, and the rising cost of living as a whole, can leave many facing financial hardship.
If your struggle to make ends meet has led you into debt, you’re not alone. Contact Angel Advance to receive free*, confidential debt advice today. You can speak to our friendly team over the phone, online, via email, through WhatsApp or in a webchat.
If all you need is debt advice, this won’t affect your credit score. If our advisors recommend signing up for a debt solution, you can get started straight away with our online debt advice tool – any time, day or night. Free and easy-to-use, our tool will tell you which debt solutions are available to you on-screen, instantly.
*Our advice is free, but if you sign up for a debt solution, a fee will apply for some solutions.
30 Hours Free Childcare: FAQs
Yes, as well as getting 30 hours of free childcare under the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme, you may also be eligible for:
But you cannot get tax-free childcare and universal credit childcare at the same time.
No, only one parent can have a Free Childcare for Working Parents account per child. If you are separated, you’ll need to decide who will apply. If you both apply, HMRC will decide for you.
Although the childcare is free, depending on your provider, you may be asked to cover the following:
- Meals
- Nappies
- Additional hours
- Additional activities, e.g. trips
But it’s important to remember you do not have to pay for these extras. If you don’t want to, your childcare provider should agree to an alternative arrangement. If they refuse, speak to your local council.
You can still get the free childcare if you don’t pay for any extra costs.
Yes, you can use more than one provider for the 30 hours of free childcare scheme – as long as you spread your funded hours across both providers equally.
You can take each 15-hour block at different providers, either as term-time or stretched hours, but you cannot mix the two up. For example, you can take one 15-hour block as term-time with one provider, and one 15-hour block as stretched hours with the other.
You must make sure that both providers know your child is also attending elsewhere.
