Get free childcare if you're working

Confirm your details are up to date

To keep getting free childcare if you’re working you must sign in to your childcare account every 3 months and confirm your details are up to date.

You’ll then get an 11-digit code to give to your childcare provider.

You can also use this service to sign in to your Tax-Free Childcare account to:

There’s a different way to sign in to your account if you’re a childcare provider.

You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve had technical problems with your account.

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
and Find where you can get childcare
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
Step 3 Check what to do if your circumstances change
Tell government straight away if your circumstances change and you're getting:
- tax credits
- Universal Credit
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
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.