To ask about working parents childcare free hours

[Housen]

Hi wise mumsnetters, does anyone know what counts as “working” for the purposes of claiming free childcare hours? My partner is a struggling academic going from research grant to research grant. He is technically neither employed , nor self employed as such, but he is definitely working! Is this likely to disqualify us from claiming funded hours, when our baby starts childcare? Confused… help!

How does he get paid? Is he a contractor, does he do his own taxes? If so self employed and he will be entitled

Do you work as well? Both have to be working to be entitled.

He should be entitled as most research grants are for a fixed term period as an employee.

You both have to be working at earn at least £183 per week before tax (in the 3 months proceeding your application). 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 or you’re self-employed and do not expect to earn enough in the next 3 months.