To be so confused by free childcare hours

[Dinoswearunderpants]

Hi

Sorry but I think I'm pretty smart however I can not understand what childcare hours we're eligible for.

My DS will be 3 in April (after Easter). I tried applying via my local authority for 15 hour but they've said we're not eligible because I don't receive any benefits.

I've logged into my HMRC account and can only see my tax free childcare account.

I called up and they were utterly useless telling me to wait for an email.

My childminder keeps saying I need to get the code sorted but I have no idea how to get the damn code.

Any advice please.

Your child will be eligible for at least the 15 hours three year old funding from September and maybe even the 30 hours but you are trying to apply far too early.

There's a window to apply

www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working

You don't need to get a code for the 15 hours. You find a setting that will take your child, they will likely ask for the birth certificate when he/she starts as proof of eligibility.

The system think you’re applying for now ie. 2 year old funding.
once 3 you should apply for 30hrs if eligible, to use from the next term ie. September
if you just get the 15hrs to use from September you don’t need a code, just the birth certificate for the childcare setting.

Mine turned 3 in January (a few years back) so would have been eligible for 30 hours from the Easter term. The code was sent to me automatically via the tax free childcare portal.

I'm assuming something similar will happen with dd, who turns 2 this month, with the new 15 hours for younger children, after her birthday.

Edit - just checked and I have my code for my almost 2 year old now, so I'll send it to nursery. I had to reconfirm eligibility the other day too which I guess prompted it.

It's the term after their birthday, so from September for a child with a birthday after Easter.

I feel so dumb as it still doesn't make sense! So won't we be eligible for anything until September? I thought it was the term after his 3rd birthday so isn't that after May half term.

There’s only 3 terms in a year (with a half term in each). So your eligibility starts from the Autumn term in September.

Also it’s only paid for 39 weeks of the year (I think). Some providers allow you to stretch the funding over 52 weeks but some will stick to just the term time weeks.

Thanks for the information. That sucks we have to wait until September. Really hoped we'd get something before then.

Blame Easter. It's harsh on April babies cos it just depends when Easter falls. This year it's super early which means you're post Easter not pre Easter.

You should get the 30 hours tho from September, so that's helpful, you just have to reconfirm your details every 3 months.

Thanks so much :-)

Oh I hadn’t even thought about the change in Easter dates.

Autumn born is rubbish too, wait until Jan and soooo long until they start school. In my next life only summer born babies :)

My government childcare account sent me multiple messages to remind me that our son would soon be eligible for three year funding. I imagine yours will too closer to the time. I lucked out that son was born in Nov and became eligible in January this year.

you might be eligible for the 15 hours starting in April for all 2 years old if you’re a working parent and meet the criteria, if not then it’ll be the hours in September.

on your TFC account it’ll ask you to reconfirm eligibility and will tell you there.

My DC got 15 free hours from age 3, because that's what all children got and still do as far as I know. Then the 30 free hours is if you work, but i don't know all the details about that.

Sorry to ask a different question OP, but @Blessedbethefruitz, how did you confirm eligibility if you don't mind me asking? My DH is considering going send employed so I'm worried about 'proving' what he earns (we've got a while yet but thinking about it early!). Thanks!

His self cert tax return will prove what he earns

Please do check the childcare.co.uk website as you are receiving a lot of incorrect information here: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/#:~:text=The%20changes%20are%20being%20introduced,access%2015%20hours%20childcare%20support.

With the extension of free childcare to 2 years old for working parents, your child will be eligible for 15h from the APRIL term (and 30h the term after they have turned 3 - I assume you are working if you get the tax rebate).

When I tried to apply for it via my tax-free childcare account, I was told to wait until my next reconfirmation window. As someone else has said it looks like it's automatic then, and the code get sent to you. Do check if you have received it because you need it before the term starts, and they recommend applying before the end of February to make the application is processed on time.

My children are older, so I don't have current experience on this.

You say the birthday is after Easter, but is the eligibility Easter, or the Easter holidays and until the Summer term starts? I wonder if this makes a difference, as our Summer term begins on 15 April this year.

N

Thanks so much. I need to reconfirm between 16 March and 12 April so hopefully if I do it then, the system will work out the 15 hours at least.

Yes that's my concern as well, our reconfirmation window for our 2 yo is very close to the cut off date.
I guess we need to trust the system.... but I really don't! 😓
I would be gutted of we were to miss on 5 months of free hours just because of a glitch in the system. I'm waiting to see what happens with my friends who have reconfirmation windows sooner.

Easter doesn't come in to it for this.
If they're birthday is between the 1st April and the 31st August then they're eligible from the term starting on or after the 1st September.
My ds will be 2 on the 10th April

Ooh yes, just ensure that you reconfirm as soon as it let's you as I know tax free childcare is causing a few issues with parents not being able to apply for the working family two year old funding until they can reconfirm.