Applications are open! Working families of 9-month-olds can now apply for government-funded childcare starting September 2024.
The government has expanded childcare support, allowing parents of 9-month-olds to apply for government-funded childcare.
Childcare is a MASSIVE expense.
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This is a game-changer for many families across England, helping parents balance work and family life more easily.
Here are the details of who is eligible and how to apply.
Free childcare for 9-month-olds
Starting in September 2024, working parents of children who will be 9 months old by 31 August can apply for government-funded childcare weekly.
This change to funding will help hundreds of thousands of families who find childcare costs too much of a stretch.
You can apply for 15 hours of free childcare a week, and the government hopes that more parents will return to work or increase their working hours without worrying so much about childcare costs.
While this is “free”, there may be extra costs such as meals, nappies, trips or additional hours, so check with your chosen provider
Eligibility
To receive funding for 15 hours of free childcare, you need to:
- have a child aged 9 months to 23 months by 31 August 2024
- be in work, or on sick leave, annual leave, shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
- be earning at least £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week) over the next three months
- have a National Insurance number and be a British or Irish citizen or have settled/pre-settled status.
If you’re not in work but your partner is working and you’re on carer’s leave or receiving Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Limited Capability for Work Benefit or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, you are also eligible.
This is specifically for England; there are different schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How to apply
If your child will be between 9 and 23 months old by 31 August 2024, you can apply for the government-funded childcare code through the childcare service.
Applications opened on 12 May 2024 for childcare starting in September 2024.
You’ll need your NI number or UTR if you’re self-employed, plus the birth certificate reference number and the date you started (or are due to start) work.
Grab a cuppa – it takes around 20 minutes to fill in the form on the Childcare Services site.
After completing it, you will receive a code in the post after one to two weeks.
You then need to take that code to your preferred childcare provider, who will validate it.
If you have a preferred childcare provider, contact them to secure a place for September. If you’re struggling to find one, your local authority can help you find available options.
Once you’ve applied, you must reconfirm your eligibility every three months.
That means if you apply now or before 1 June and are new to the system, you will need to reconfirm your childcare code before starting in September.
While it’s 15 hours from this September, the plan is for 30 hours of funded childcare to be available by September 2025, saving families up to £6,900 a year.
You also get £2,000 a year in tax-free childcare, which can be used at the same time as this free funding.
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