I'm Non UK national, can Ex apply for 30 hours free childcare?

[mum8408]

Is there a way I can apply for the 30 hours free childcare?

I was just wondering if anyone might have any thoughts about this predicament, or if I've fallen down a crack in the system.

Mother:
-Non UK national (not entitled to public funds)
-Not working
-Don't have a partner

Father
-Not living with his British child (but responsible for child financially and visits child)
-Meets the income threshold

The rules say:
-I cannot apply, as it's a public benefit.
-For separated couple, decide who should apply (if you're jointly responsible(?) )
-You will not be eligible if your child does not usually (?) live with you.
-For non-uk nationals, your partner can apply instead

So does that mean?
-Ex should apply, on basis that we're separated, he's a UK national, I'm not, and he meets income and is a parent.

When playing with the form, it does ask if the child lives with (him). Ticking the [no] box still proceeds on to all the other eligibility questions instead of stopping at that point.

I'm a bit worried about filling the form out (from his perspective or mine) and submitting the prospective details to see a result, incase that could cause a problem somehow like submitting the details into the system. Guidance says it can be immediate or up to 7 days for a result. I just wanted to understand in principal if he can apply so I can get the childcare or not, and if so, whether he needs to work or I need to work or both. I don't want to enter details onto a system incase it creates a problem lodging it onto a system that I can't then go and redo, unless its just a simple yes or no based on the values you've entered, and go back to try again with different details if needed. Plus our daughter isn't quite at the applicable age yet to apply yet anyway so I'm not after the final code needed to give nurseries...

Also on another website it says either parent can apply, but the eligibility criteria must apply to the parent who the child lives with.

Bottom line, surely it would make sense that if he's a UK national, then his UK child is entitled to the 30 hours? Even if the child doesn't live with him? It doesn't make it very cost effective for me to go to work if I have to pay for his nursery same time.

Is there any harm filling the form out different times with different details to figure this one out judging by a result at the end? Is there any room for ambiguity? As the guidance says jointly responsible(?) and usually(?) living with you, which sounds a bit open to interpretation...

Edit: Doesn't make it cost effective if I have to pay his (ex's) nursery responsibility if I'm not working. And he doesn't ideally want to pay it if he or I should be getting the 30 hours free, regardless of who our daughter lives with.

Which government department would you phone to even clarify the guidance?

Surely, as it states clearly that if the child lives with you, your ex isn't entitled to apply, the fund isn't available to you.

The option for either parent to apply if only one of them is a uk national, will only be relevant if they both live with the child.

I have no special knowledge, I'm just reading the criteria you've listed.

30 hours funding is DfE. However it is administrated locally so I would contact your local authority Early Years department (try searching for Family Information Service).

Mother: Not working.

That jumps out as making you non-eligible. I think both parents need to be in employment earning at least equivalent of 16 hours per week NMW.

If you are seeking work and about to start a job then you may meet the earning criteria.

Here is some guidance: www.eyalliance.org.uk/30-hours-free-childcare-what-parents-need-know

I reported on the change (am a journalist) when it came in. To the best of my memory, the reason you can’t have it is twofold. It’s divided into two - 15 hours preschool education and 15 hours childcare. You’re not working and even if you were, your ex is the British national and he doesn’t need the childcare for himself (I understand the logic fail here). I haven’t covered it since, so things may have changed, but I’m pretty sure you’d get the first 15 educational hours, as it’s effectively part of state education, just with a mix of state and private providers.

Yes even if you were a uk National you wouldn’t be entitled because it’s for working parents. You can have the first 15 though as this is for every 3 & 4 year old.

Look for jobs paying more than it would cost you to pay out in early education. Are there jobs in your area which are say 10am-2pm? Are there any early education providers taking on new children? With Covid-19 there is going to be a reduction in places available, in the short term... possibly long term as providers could have 25+ children in a group and now can have a max of 16. That max may get removed at some point but it is unknown when that will happen.