Families in England can get help with childcare through three main routes: Tax-Free Childcare, which adds £2 for every £8 you pay in; 15 or 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children from 9 months to 4 years old; and Universal Credit childcare, which can refund up to 85% of costs. Which you can get depends on your child's age, whether you work, and your income, and some can be combined while others cannot.
What childcare support is available in England?
The table compares the main schemes.
| Scheme | What you get | Child's age | Main conditions | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax-Free Childcare | £2 top-up for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child (£4,000 if disabled) | 11 or under (16 or under if disabled) | Working, earning at least the minimum, income under £100,000 | Online childcare account |
| Free Childcare for Working Parents | Up to 30 hours a week for 38 weeks a year | 9 months to 4 years | Working, earning at least the minimum, income under £100,000 | Online childcare account, then give the code to your provider |
| 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds | 570 hours a year, usually 15 hours a week for 38 weeks | 3 and 4 years | None: all children in England | Your childcare provider or local council |
| Early Learning for 2 year olds | 15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year | 2 years | Certain benefits or circumstances | Your local council |
| Universal Credit childcare | Up to 85% of costs refunded, up to a monthly maximum | Under 17 | On Universal Credit and working | Report costs in your Universal Credit account |
All of these schemes require an approved, registered childcare provider, so check with yours before you apply.
How does Tax-Free Childcare work?
You pay money into an online childcare account and pay your provider from it. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2.
The top-up is capped at £500 every 3 months per child, up to £2,000 a year. For a disabled child, it is £1,000 every 3 months, up to £4,000 a year. Your child must be 11 or younger, or 16 or younger if disabled.
To be eligible, you and your partner, if you have one, must each expect to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average over the next 3 months. For someone aged 21 or over, GOV.UK puts this at £2,643.68 over the 3 months. You cannot claim if you or your partner expect adjusted net income of more than £100,000 in the current tax year.
If you are paid irregularly or self-employed, you can average your expected earnings over the tax year, and if you started your business less than 12 months ago the earnings minimum does not apply.
The key restriction: you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.
Who can get 15 or 30 hours of funded childcare?
There are three separate funded hours schemes in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own).
- 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds. Every 3 and 4 year old in England can get 570 free hours a year, usually taken as 15 hours a week over 38 weeks. Some providers let you take fewer hours over more weeks. It starts the term after your child's third birthday (from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September) and you do not need to be working.
- Free Childcare for Working Parents. Working families can get up to 30 hours a week for 38 weeks a year for children aged 9 months to 4 years. The earnings rules and £100,000 income limit are the same as for Tax-Free Childcare, and you and your partner must both meet them. You also need a National Insurance number.
- Early Learning for 2 year olds. This gives 15 hours a week for 38 weeks to 2 year olds whose families get extra support. You qualify if, for example, you get Universal Credit with household take-home income of £15,400 a year or less (not counting benefits), or you get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or the guaranteed element of Pension Credit. Children qualify too if they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, get Disability Living Allowance, or are in or have left local authority care.
You may still pay for extras such as meals, nappies, additional hours and trips.
How does Universal Credit help with childcare costs?
If you get Universal Credit and you work, you can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs. GOV.UK lists the monthly maximums as £1,071.09 for one child and £1,836.16 for two or more children. If you live with a partner, you both need to be working, unless one of you cannot work because of a disability or health condition.
You pay the provider first and claim the money back through your Universal Credit payment. If paying upfront is hard, ask your work coach about help.
You cannot get Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare at the same time. If you qualify for both, the government's Childcare Checker can help you compare.
How do I apply?
The route depends on the scheme.
- Check what you could get. Use the government's Childcare Checker on the Best Start in Life website (the old Childcare Choices address now redirects there).
- For Tax-Free Childcare and Free Childcare for Working Parents, apply online through a childcare account on GOV.UK. It usually takes about 20 minutes. You will need your National Insurance number (and your partner's), your Unique Taxpayer Reference if you are self-employed, and the date you started or will start work. One application checks you for both schemes. You usually get a decision straight away, but extra checks can take up to 10 days.
- Give your provider the code. If you are approved for Free Childcare for Working Parents, you get an 11-digit code to give your childcare provider.
- Reconfirm every 3 months. You must sign in every 3 months to confirm your details are up to date. If you miss this, your Tax-Free Childcare stops.
- For the universal 15 hours, talk to your childcare provider or local council.
- For Early Learning for 2 year olds, contact the early years team or Family Information Service at your local council. If you also qualify for Free Childcare for Working Parents, apply for the 2 year olds scheme first.
- For Universal Credit childcare, report your costs in your Universal Credit account.
When should I apply for working parent hours?
You can apply once your child is 23 weeks old. Hours start on fixed dates (1 January, 1 April or 1 September) depending on when your child turns 9 months, and you must apply by the day before. For example, if your child turns 9 months between 1 April and 31 August, hours start on 1 September and you must apply by 31 August. Different windows apply if you are returning to work or starting a new job.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need separate applications for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours?
No. When you apply for Tax-Free Childcare in England, HMRC also checks whether you are eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents. Remember that Tax-Free Childcare cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare or childcare vouchers.
Do I need to be working to get 15 free hours?
Not for 3 and 4 year olds: all children of that age in England can get 570 hours a year. The 30 hours scheme for children from 9 months is only for working parents.
What happens if I earn over £100,000?
If you or your partner expect adjusted net income over £100,000 in the current tax year, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare or Free Childcare for Working Parents. You can still get the universal 15 hours for a 3 or 4 year old.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Tax-Free Childcare
- GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents
- GOV.UK: 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
- GOV.UK: Universal Credit, what you'll get
- Best Start in Life (formerly Childcare Choices): Childcare and early years
General information only, based on GOV.UK guidance available in October 2026. Amounts and earnings thresholds change, so check the official pages or the Childcare Checker for your own situation.