Get free childcare if you're working

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Check if you're eligible

The amount of free childcare you can get depends on:

  • your child’s age and circumstances
  • whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
  • your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
  • your immigration status

You will not be eligible if either:

  • your child does not usually live with you
  • you or your partner have an expected adjusted net income of over £100,000 in the current tax year

Your child’s age and circumstances

The number of hours of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child.

If your child is 9 months to 2 years old

Children aged 9 months to 2 years old currently get 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. From September 2025 this will increase to 30 hours per week.

If your child is 3 to 4 years old

You can get 30 hours per week of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

If they’re being fostered by you

You can claim free childcare if you’re working as long as:

  • you’re in paid work outside your fostering role 
  • your ‘adjusted net income’ is under £100,000

You cannot use the online application to get free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.

If you’re working

You can usually get free childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

  • in work or starting a new job
  • on sick leave or annual leave
  • on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

If you’re not currently working

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you are on carer’s leave or if you get any of the following: 

  • Incapacity Benefit 
  • Severe Disablement Allowance 
  • Carer’s Allowance 
  • Limited Capability for Work Benefit 
  • contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Your income

Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least:

  • £2,539 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £195 per week)
  • £2,080 before tax if you’re aged 18 to 20 (equivalent to £160 per week)
  • £1,570 before tax if you’re under 18 or an apprentice (equivalent to £120 per week)

This is the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week on average.

You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year if:

  • you work throughout the year but do not get paid regularly
  • you’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months

Example

You’re eligible if you’re 21 or over and do not have a regular income but earn £10,158 a year. This is the same as earning £2,539 every 3 months on average.

If you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago

You can earn less and still be eligible for free childcare for working parents.

If you have more than one job

You can use your total earnings to work out if you meet the threshold. This includes:

  • earnings from any employment
  • earnings from any self-employment

If you’re both employed and self-employed, you can use just your self-employment income if this would make you eligible.

Income that does not count toward your minimum earnings

Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.

These include:

  • dividends
  • interest
  • income from investing in property
  • pension payments

Your immigration status

You (and your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number. 

The person who applies must also have at least one of the following:

  • British or Irish citizenship
  • settled or pre-settled status, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision
  • permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this

If you are not eligible for free childcare for working parents

You may be able to get other help towards childcare costs.

If your child is between 3 and 4 years old and you live in England, you can get 15 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year.

If you claim certain benefits, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2-year-olds under a separate scheme.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Get childcare: step by step

  1. Step 1 Find out if you can get help with childcare costs

    1. Check what help you could get with childcare costs

    You can only get help with 'approved childcare'.

    1. Find out what 'approved childcare' is

  2. and Find where you can get childcare

    1. Find a nursery school place
    2. Find a registered childminder
    3. Search for free early education and childcare

  3. Step 2 Get help paying for childcare

    You can get help with childcare costs for children under 18. You might be able to apply for:

    You could also get free childcare when your child is aged 9 months to 4 years. You might be able to apply for:

    You can only get childcare vouchers if you have already joined a scheme.

    1. Check the rules for childcare vouchers

  4. Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change

    Tell government straight away if your circumstances change and you're getting:

    If you're getting free childcare if you're working or Tax-Free Childcare you have to confirm if your details are up to date every 3 months.

    1. Sign into your childcare account to find out when you next have to check your details

    Your eligibility for support with childcare costs might also change.

    1. Check if your eligibility for help with childcare costs has changed

  5. Step 4 Check what to do when your child reaches school age

    1. Apply for a primary school place
    2. Find before and after school and holiday clubs

    You might be able to use help like tax credits or Tax-Free Childcare to pay for childcare like wraparound care, after school clubs or other activities.