Free education and childcare for children aged 9 months to 4 years for children from Working Families

You can claim Free Childcare for Working Parents 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.

You can usually get Free Childcare for Working Parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work or starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer’s leave or if you get any of the following:

• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Limited Capability for Work Benefit
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

• £2,539.68 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195.36 per week)
• £2,080 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week)
• £1,570.40 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120.80 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.

Example

You’re eligible if you’re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £10,158 a year. This is the same as earning £2,539 every 3 months on average.

You can earn less and still be eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents.

You can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes:

• earnings from any employment
• earnings from any self-employment.

If you’re both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible.

Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.

These include:

• dividends
• interest
• income from investing in property
• pension payments.

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.