Eligibility criteria for 30 hours' free childcare
Age criteria
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Your child is eligible for 30 hours’ free childcare from the start of the term after their third birthday.
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Terms starts on 1 January, 1 April or 1 September. For example, if your child turns three on 23 June, they are eligible from 1 September.
| If your child turns three between: | They are eligible from: | When best to apply for your code: |
| 1 September to 31 December | 1 January (spring term) | 15 October to 30 November |
| 1 January to 31 March | 1 April (summer term) | 15 January to 28 February |
| 1 April to 31 August | 1 September (autumn term) | 15 June to 31 July |
Will I qualify for 30 hours free childcare?
In order to qualify, both parents must be working or the sole parent must be working in a lone parent family and the following criteria applies.
Your income
Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:
- £2,539 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195 per week)
- £2,080 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week)
- £1,570 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120 per week)
This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.
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 (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
You will not be eligible if either
- your child does not usually live with you
- you or your partner have an expected adjusted net income of over £100,000 in the current tax year
If you or your partner are self-employed
As long as you earn at least the minimum amount but less than the upper threshold of £100,000 each, your child will be eligible for the 30 hours of free childcare.
If you’ve just started a new job
If you expect to earn at least the minimum amount on average, over the next three months, your child will be eligible for the 30 hours of free childcare.
If you become eligible part way through a term
You can start claiming your 30 free hours as soon as is practical during that term, and no later than the start of the next term.
If you are living with a new partner or have remarried
You and your new partner must both be working in order for your child to be eligible.
If child being fostered by you
You can claim free childcare if you’re working as long as:
- you’re in paid work outside your fostering role
- your ‘adjusted net income’ is under £100,000
You cannot use the online application to get free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.
Adopted children
You can claim for your adopted child as long as you and your partner meet the eligibility criteria.
More information
More information on 15 and 30 hours childcare support is available from Childcare Choices.