MARTIN Lewis has issued a “last chance” warning to parents applying for free childcare.
Mums and dads have just days left to apply for 15 hours of free childcare if they want to get it in time for the summer term.
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Currently, all parents of three and four-year-olds can claim 570 hours of free childcare a year, equating to 15 hours a week, while some can get 30 hours a week too.
But from April 1, working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week too.
Now, consumer champion Martin Lewis has called on these mums and dads to apply by March 31 so they can get the free hours in time for the start of the summer term.
Writing in his MoneySavingExpert newsletter, his team said: “From April 1 you’re eligible for 15 hours a week of funded childcare (ie, state funds up to a certain amount – you may need to supplement it), but you have to apply by Sunday to get it for the summer term – otherwise you’ll have to wait till September.”
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Working parents are classed as those who individually earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 adjusted net income a year.
For couples, the rules apply to both parents, so both must earn at least £8,670 and neither can earn more than £100,000.
The move to extend free childcare was announced this year in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Statement in 2023.
As well as the above, from September, the 15 free hours will be extended to those with nine-month-olds up until the start of school.
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And from September 2025, all working parents of nine-month-olds will get 30 hours of free childcare until their kids are school age.
New childcare help explained – and how you can get maximum support revealed by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan
How to apply for the extra childcare
You apply on the same government website that parents of three and four-year-olds sign up for their existing 30 hours.
Simply sign into your account on the GOV.UK website, or create a new one.
You’ll need a Government Gateway user ID to log in.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code which you have to give to your provider.
Crucially, you have to reconfirm your eligibility every three months.
The recommended time to register for the new support was between mid-January and the end of February, so that parents wouldn’t need to reconfirm eligibility before taking up a place.
You can apply outside of the recommended government times, but you might not get a code in time to get help as early as possible.
It usually takes 20 minutes to apply. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but keep in mind it can take up to seven days.
Who is eligible for free childcare?
Free childcare was first introduced in 2010 and has since been extended.
You can currently get help paying for childcare for three and four-year-olds through the scheme in England.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.
At the moment, you can get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time).
But you have to be getting childcare from an approved provider and the help stops when your child starts in reception at school.
Some parents can get up to 30 hours of free childcare, depending on their circumstances.
You can get it at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare.
Some parents can also get free childcare hours for two-year-olds.
You can get help in this instance if you live in England and are on certain benefits, including:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Two-year-olds can also get free childcare if they are looked after by a local authority, have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, get Disability Living Allowance or have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.
What help is available to parents for childcare costs?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours of free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week.
To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
What are the rules for working parents?
To be eligible for free childcare, you have to earn a certain amount each week.
Working parents who individually earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year are eligible.
This is equal to at least 16 hours a week on average at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage.
For couples, the rules apply to both parents, so both must earn at least £8,670 and neither can earn more than £100,000.
There’s more information available on the exact criteria on the Childcare Choices website, for example, if parents work irregular hours or are receiving certain benefits.
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Meanwhile, huge changes to child benefit will save thousands of mums and dads from an “unfair” tax charge.
Plus, here are six ways to get help with childcare before the April changes.
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