I can’t get my head around 15/30 hours for DS & me working

[BearLoves]

DS turned 2 last week. We also have a 12 year old. I work for DH so my hours are flexible (I tend to work before the kids are up and once they’ve gone to bed or we tag team through the day). We both pay 20% tax on our earnings which are about £90K pa.
Do we qualify for any funding? Am considering sending DS so I can look for a job for myself.

In September 2024 when he's 3 you will be. Until then you can use tax free childcare which means Gov pay 20% of your childcare fees.

I read online that the government are changing things so that he could get funding earlier in the April but now I can’t find it again. Would we qualify for 15 or 30 hours do you know please? Or where to look?

He'll get 15 hours after Easter. It's just term time so depending on how many weeks you use, you will get 10-12 hours funded.

https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

I would not be making any plans based on this just yet.

If you both work (you need to work at least 16 hours, officially on paper) he’ll qualify for 30 hours a week term time (fewer spread over the whole year), start of the term after he’s 3. If you’re not working he’ll get 15 hours when he’s 3, unless you’re claiming certain benefits when he might get 15 hours term time when he’s 2, but you’d need to check.

If you’re both working you can also get help with costs through tax free childcare.

There have been new things announced for next but with a general election next year it could all change, so I’m not paying much attention. There’s also no capacity in the childcare system to provide what’s been announced at the moment, so you’d have to ask individual providers what they’re planning

@daffodilandtulip if he only turned 2 last week he’s not eligible until next September, the term after he’s 3. Unless they’re claiming certain benefits

The rules are changing next year. He'll be eligible after Easter.

How are you paid - are you a Limited company, and the company pays you via PAYE? If not, are you self employed, completing a self assessment tax return? HMRC/Tax-Free Childcare are looking for PAYE record data ideally, otherwise they look at self employment data. It is the amount involved not the number of hours which is important for eligibility.

Yes Ltd company and paid via PAYE. Don’t claim any benefits except child benefit.

In that case, I would guess that you meet the eligibility criteria for Tax-Free Childcare scheme, so can use that towards the cost of childcare.
From April 2024, you may get nursery funding for 15 hours term time, and be able to use Tax-Free Childcare scheme to help towards the cost of additional childcare.
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/07/07/free-childcare-how-we-tackling-the-cost-of-childcare/