Targeted funded childcare offer for working families
Information on funding that's available for working families.
Eligibility criteria
The parent/s must have:
- a National Insurance number and be a British or Irish citizen, or:
- have settled or pre-settled status, be awaiting a decision following application, or have permission to access public funds
- families must be living in England, and:
- at least one parent should be seeking the funded childcare to enable them to work
- parent/s must be in qualifying paid work and earn the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the national living wage or minimum wage over the forthcoming quarter
- if one or both parents receive sickness or parenting benefits, they are considered in paid work
- where one parent (in a couple household) receives or could receive specific benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work, they are also considered in paid work
Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’, for example they are newly self-employed, they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months to qualify for the funding.
Families are ineligible if either or both parent’s income individually exceeds £100,000.
How to apply
Applications for funding must be made to HMRC before the term starts and must then be refreshed every 3 months. A child only becomes eligible for working families funding from the term after they become the right age and a successful application has been made. If applications are made after the start of term, funding cannot start until the next term.
Families will be sent an Eligibility Code to give to their child’s setting, along with proof of the child’s date of birth in the form of a birth certificate, passport, or health record.
To access funded childcare in the: | Applications must be submitted by: |
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Autumn term (1 September to 31 December) | 31 August |
Spring term (1 January to 31 March) | 31 December |
Summer term (1 April to 31 august) | 31 March |