Working Parent Entitlement
Currently, eligible working parents of children aged 3 and 4 years can receive an additional 15 hours of childcare support on top of the universal offer of 15 hours, bringing the total support they can receive up to 30 hours a week (a maximum of 1,140 hours per year).
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2 year olds have been able to access 15 hours of childcare support (a maximum of 570 hours per year).
From September 2024, the 15 hours of childcare support is being expanded to include eligible working parents of children from age 9 months to 3 years (a maximum of 570 hours per year).
From September 2025, eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age will also be able to receive 30 hours of childcare support a week (a maximum of 1,140 hours per year).
Validating eligibility codes
Once you've successfully completed an eligibility check via childcarechoices.gov.uk you will be given an 11-digit eligibility code which you'll need to validate via the Provider Portal.
Eligibility Criteria
The working parent entitlement is intended to support working parents with the cost of childcare and enable them to return to work or to work additional hours.
Parents (or those with parental responsibility) of children from the age 9 months upwards until they go to school will need to check they meet the eligibility criteria every 3 months.
Working parents in England who each earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage are eligible.
| Your age | 21 and over | 18 to 20 | Under 18 or an apprentice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly | £9,518 | £7,155 | £5,324 |
| 3 Months | £2,379 | £1,788 | £1,331 |
| Monthly | £793 | £596 | £443 |
| Weekly | £183 | £137 | £102 |
Parents can earn up to £100,000 adjusted net income per year and be eligible. If they have a partner who lives with them, they must also earn between these two amounts. The £100,000 adjusted net income level was chosen to correspond with income tax thresholds.
If a parent needs to provide proof of earnings, they will be able to use an average of how much they expect to earn over the current tax year if:
- they work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly.
- they are self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months.
For example, a parent is eligible if they are 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £9.518 a year. This is the same as earning £2,379 every 3 months on average.
If a parent is self-employed and started their business less than 12 months ago, they can earn less and still be eligible for free childcare for working parents.
If a parent has more than one job, they can use their total earnings to work out if they meet the threshold. This includes:
- earnings from any employment
- earnings from any self-employment
If both parents are employed and self-employed, they can just use their self-employment income as this would make them eligible.
For example, if the parent expects their average self-employed earnings over the tax year to be more than what they’ll get over the next 3 months as an employee.
Parents can usually get free childcare for working parents if they (and their partner, if they have one) are:
- In work
- On sick leave or annual leave
- On shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
If the parent starts work or are on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave, the date they start or return to work will affect when they can get free childcare.
| Date of starting or returning to work | When parent can get the hours from |
|---|---|
| 1 May to 30 September | Period starting on or after 1 September |
| 1 October to 31 January | Period starting on or after 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | Period starting on or after 1 April |
If a parent is not currently working
A parent may still be eligible if their partner is working, and they are on carer’s leave or if they get any of the following:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Limited Capability for Work Benefit
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Parents can apply if they are starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.
Income that does not count toward parents minimum earnings
Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount a parent must earn to be eligible.
These include:
- Dividends
- Interest
- Income from investing in property
- Pension payments
A parents’ immigration status
To be eligible for free childcare for working parents, a parent (and their partner, if they 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 they have applied and are waiting for a decision.
- Permission to access public funds – their UK residence card will tell them if they cannot do this.
If parents are having difficulty completing an eligibility check or have a query about the result, they should contact Childcare Choices on 0300 123 4097.
Free funded childcare for foster parents
Children in foster care, who are from the age of 9 months and above, are now able to receive 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of childcare (a total of 570 hours per year), if the following criteria are met:
- Accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child’s care plan and will not negatively impact on the child; and
- Show that, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside of their role as a foster parent; or
- Show that, in 2 parent foster families, either both partners engage in paid work outside of their role as a foster parent, or one partner engages in paid work and the other partner receives certain qualifying benefits; or
- Show that if one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits
Foster parents can claim the 15 hours in the period after their foster child turns 9-months-old and they have received an eligibility code from the local authority. Eligible children can start a funded place from either the 1 September, 1 January, or 1 April. Foster parents can apply up to 16 weeks before their foster child turns the relevant age.
Foster parents will need to reconfirm with their social worker that they are still working outside of their role as a foster parent every 3 months for the funding to continue.
In the first instance, the foster parent should contact their social care worker to find out more and to apply.