Claiming 15 hours of free childcare for children under 3 years old

If you’re in work you might be able to get 15 hours of funded childcare a week - this is often called ‘free hours’.

You can get the free hours for children who are at least 9 months old and less than 3 years old. When you need to apply depends on your child’s age.

You can usually get 15 hours of funded childcare if 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, each of you will need to earn between these amounts.

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

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

Check when it will start and when to apply

You’ll get the hours for the term that starts after you’ve applied. 

GOV.UK explains when you can apply. It’s best to apply as early as you can because your childcare provider might ask for your code before the deadline.

You can check when to apply for the 15 hours of free childcare on GOV.UK.

If you missed the deadline to apply

You can’t get the free hours for a term that’s already started, but you can apply during the next application period to get the hours for the next term.

You can check when the next application period opens on GOV.UK.

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 or 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 offer the new funded hours for children aged under 3.

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 offer the new funded hours for children under 3 years old.

Claiming funded childcare

You’ll need to get a code for the funded hours to give to your childcare provider.

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.

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.

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.