15 Hours funding for Two year olds.

[Tulipsroses]

Gov.UK states that you can apply from 2nd of January for 15 hours free childcare per week starting from April.
Has anyone found where and how to apply for this?

I tried today and the website said from mid Jan so I've set a reminder.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

If you already get tax-free childcare, it'll generate you a code next time you renew. You can't get it before then. You don't need to do anything else.

If you don't already get tax free childcare, you can set up a childcare account and apply from today.

Tax-free childcare is different from the new entitlements for working parents. TFC allows you to save 20% on your childcare fees - eg if you put £8 into the account, the government will put in £2.
The new 2YO codes have to be applied for via childcare choices.gov.uk as PP has said. TFC is also managed through that website but it is different to the entitlements.

I think I will do the same.

as with most things the government does it seems to be needlessly confusing - all the news articles (ie press releases) are encouraging you to register today but doesn’t seem you actually can! Just get stuck in a loop between the gov uk and childcare choices site, seems the most you can do is register an email address for updates.

if it just means register for an account if you don’t already have one (for tax free etc) is not exactly clear

Glad I found this thread. I’ve been on my tax free childcare account to try to apply and got nowhere. So it seems I have to wait for my next reconfirmation (in March) to then get the code generated for use from April. It would be super helpful if that had been explained in advance and I wouldn’t have had to have contended with an ever-crashing gov UK website 🙄

Ah this is so annoying, I have to wait to reconfirm which isn’t for another month in order to get my code and the nursery my 2 year old is at has very limited availability and on first come first serve so we have no chance of getting it!

Hi posted this in old thread but wanted to ask here as on topic if my understanding is correct -
Husband works full time, I've been stay at home mum for several years (first kid 5, second 1.5).
If I register my own business (eg photographer) then even if I don't earn anything we'd be eligible for the 15 hours for when our kid is 2 (term after birthday - turns 2 in may so sept. Term start) and that would be the case for 12 months? Then only when it comes to the 30 hours at 3 would we need to show that the business made or is likely to make the minimum amount? Ie forecast 18k? And even then would it be the case that I could e.g. maybe earn 10k for whole year and it would be a "oops business didn't generate enough" or would the 3 monthly check be - sorry no longer qualified?
I'm not trying to scam or anything but I've been doing this as a hobby and without much time so hoping to use the 15h to help build up client base and portfolio over year to then hopefully turn it into something by second year.
Many thanks all!

@punjama You both need to be earning the equivalent of 16 hours minimum wage per week to qualify for the funding so your business would need to be making money.

Childcare choices have updated their website today with the correct link to apply. It sent you round in circles yesterday.

Here's the link to apply https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working

As a pp said if you already get tax free childcare you can't apply until you reconfirm next time.

thank you for your response. so i was wrong in my understanding that there is different rules for self employed people for first 12 months?

https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

"If you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months agoYou can earn less and still be eligible for free childcare."

whats not clear is how much less?

Birthday May, apply June-July for Sep start...register business at time of application...from what i understand 3 month re-assessment if you qualify but again unclear what the "how much less" is...

"However, if you've been self-employed for less than 12 months, the minimum income requirement doesn't apply to you, so you'll be able to access the scheme even if your earnings dip below the threshold. "

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/tax-free-childcare/

section 5 - seems to imply that basically just need to set up the self employed business at time of application / just before and the minimum doesnt apply...unless im wrong?

You would certainly have to be earning something, not just start a business and not earn anything as per your original post. The only way to know how much less is by contacting them to ask.

hi
i suppose thats the crux of the matter. the intention is of course there to earn something however its really identifying whether there is a minimum in first 12 months. could earn 1k and that is fine it seems?

It’s worth contacting them to ask. You will need to reconfirm every 3 months with details of earnings and when you initially apply you will need your unique tax payer code after registering for tax.

You can apply now but the website and phone lines are not working.

Is this that the free hours you're thinking of? There's another new scheme for anyone living in a deprived area, not means tested or subject to working hours, just universal if you mi e in that area.

We've been getting it since December. Something to do with Flying Start I think? We are Wales, not sure if it's the whole UK

I have been looking at my childcare account for this and wondering about this.

I have already confirmed for TFC and the next re-confirmation doesn't open until 22nd March. I feel like that would be quite late to get the code sorted in time to actually use the 15hrs childcare from when it begins?? What date does it actually start, do you know? Hopefully I'm just panicking unnecessarily. My DC turned 2 a few months ago and we use TFC so definitely eligible from April and our nursery have confirmed they will be accepting it.

As long as you have your code by 31st March it will be valid from April.

Can anyone advise what month we should apply for the 15 hours if we have a 12 month old now? (Jan birthday)

I really don't want to miss the correct slot

July would probably be a good time so you have it ready for funding to start in September

Is it same for 1.5yr old (born May)? Many thanks!

If you're already claiming tax free childcare then no need to do anything it will be generated automatically.

Thank you. we already claim tax free childcare for baby as hes just starting nursery . So i dont need to do anything? dont want to make any mistakes this time as we missed out on some funding for my firstborn which still makes me upset to think about.