Claiming the new 15 hours of free childcare for 2 year olds

If you’re in work you might be able to get 15 hours of funded childcare a week from 1 April 2024 - this is often called ‘free hours’. If you’re in a couple you both need to be working.

You can usually get 15 hours of funded childcare if both the following apply:

• your child is 2 years old or will turn 2 years old before 1 April 2024

• you earn at least £8,670 a year and less than £100,000 a year adjusted net income, which is your income after some tax reliefs and deductions

If you’re a couple, you'll both need to earn between these amounts.

If you already get 15 funded hours of childcare from the government you can’t get these hours as well. 

You can get the 15 hours of funded childcare at the same time as using Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit for childcare.

Check when it will start

If you're eligible you’ll get 15 hours of funded childcare the term after your child turns 2 years old.

If your child is already 2 or turns 2 before March 31 2024, you’ll get the hours from 1 April 2024.

If your child turns 2 between 1 April and 31 August 2024 you’ll get the hours from 1 September 2024.

From September 2024 the scheme will be extended to include children aged 9 months and older.

Check what it will cover

You’ll get 15 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks a year. Childcare providers might stretch the hours for up to 52 weeks, this means you’ll get less than 15 hours a week.

You can use the funded hours with any childcare provider that has signed up to the scheme. This could be a:

• nursery

• school/pre-school

• childminder

• session provider, for example a playgroup

• Sure Start Children’s Centre

The funding won’t cover meals or extras such as nappies or sunscreen. If you want to pay for these extras you’ll need to arrange it with your childcare provider. Your childcare provider should accept your funded childcare code even if you won’t pay for meals and extras.

Check if your childcare provider offers funded places

Not all childcare providers will offer the new funded hours. Some might not have decided yet - they might be waiting for more information from their local authority.

If your child has a place with a childcare provider, contact the person in charge and ask them if they’re going to offer the new funded hours for children aged 2.

If your child doesn’t have a place with a childcare provider, ask the person in charge of any childcare setting you’re considering if they’re going to offer the new funded hours for 2 year olds.

Claiming funded childcare

You’ll need to get a code for the funded hours to give to your childcare provider. You’ll need to claim your code before 31 March 2024.

How to claim your code depends on whether you have a government ‘childcare account’. You’ll already have a childcare account if you get Tax-Free Childcare. 

If you don’t have a childcare account

You need to apply for free childcare if you're working on GOV.UK. You'll get a code to give to your childcare provider.

The government recommends you apply from 15 January to 28 February so you don’t have to reconfirm your eligibility before the scheme starts. 

If you have a childcare account

You’ll be able to claim your code when you next reconfirm your Tax-Free Childcare on your childcare account.

Give this code to your childcare provider along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth.

You need to reconfirm every 3 months. Check when your next reconfirmation window is by signing into your childcare account on GOV.UK.

Important

If your reconfirmation window opens on or after 15 February

The government will automatically send you a temporary code in the post. This will go to your home address registered on your childcare account. 

Give this code to your childcare provider along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth.

This is a temporary code and you’ll still need to claim your code on your childcare account when your reconfirmation window opens. You’ll then need to give this code to your childcare provider to replace your temporary code.

If you don’t get a letter with your temporary code by 15 February, contact HMRC. You can check how to contact HMRC on GOV.UK.

Get help with costs if you have a child or you're pregnant

You might be able to get help to pay for costs like food and school uniforms. Check how to get help with costs if you have a child or you're pregnant.