THOUSANDS more parents can apply for free childcare hours later this spring, the Government has announced.
Working parents of nine-month-olds will be able to apply for 15 hours free childcare from May 12 ahead of its September rollout.
The Government is encouraging parents to get applications in early to ensure they can secure a place with a provider.
It comes with working parents of two-year-olds set to start receiving 15 hours free childcare from next month.
Meanwhile, working parents of children aged nine months to three years will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare a week from September next year.
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Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: "Last year, we committed to delivering the largest ever expansion of childcare that England has ever seen.
"And with over 150,000 children about to begin accessing a government-funded childcare place in just over two weeks, it’s clear our plan is working.
“This Government has a track record of transforming childcare, with the offer of 30 hours for three and four-year-olds for eligible working parents introduced in 2017. We are now going further."
The move to extend free childcare was announced last year in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Spring Statement.
It came alongside a raft of other changes, including that childcare costs for those on Universal Credit would be paid upfront instead of in arrears, in a major win for The Sun’s Make Universal Credit Work campaign.
How can I apply for free childcare?
You can apply for free childcare hours on the GOV.UK website.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.
You can currently apply for 30 hours free childcare on the Government's website and from when your child is two years and 36 weeks old.
You should check with your childcare provider to find out the exact date your 30 hours of free childcare will start.
Crucially, you have to reconfirm your eligibility every three months.
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You can check if you qualify for free childcare via the Childcare Choices page on the Government's website.
What other childcare help is available?
There are several tax breaks and grants designed to help with the cost of childcare.
You can usually use them for care like registered childminders, nannies, playschemes, nurseries, and holiday clubs.
It's worth checking out the Government's childcare costs calculator to figure out which scheme will save you the most money though, as not all can be claimed at the same time.
Free childcare for two-year-olds
Parents living in England and claiming any of the below benefits can access some free childcare for two-year-olds:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit (where household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments)
- Tax credits (where household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax)
- Pension Credit (guaranteed element)
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
- Have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.
You should contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.
Tax-free childcare
Those not on Universal Credit or Tax Credits may qualify for tax-free childcare.
You can get up to £500 every three months - up to a maximum of £2,000 a year - for each of your children.
If your child is disabled, you can claim more - £1,000 every three months, up to £4,000 maximum per year.
Anyone eligible can sign up by creating an online childcare account via the Government's website.
Child benefit
You can get child benefit if you're responsible for a child aged under 16, or if they are under 20 and in approved education or training.
Child benefit is currently worth £24 a week for the eldest child or only child, worth £1,248 a year.
For each subsequent child, parents get £15.90 a week - or £826.80 a year.
The cash is paid every four weeks and there's no limit to how many children you can apply for.
Bear in mind though, those who earn more than £50,000 a year may need to pay back some of their child benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
This will rise to £60,000 from April 6.
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