15hrs Funded at 2 Years Old

[TheLondoner22]

Hi

Can anyone tell me what qualifies someone for 15hrs funded childcare for a 2 year old?

Conflicting info!

Also, how is the 15hrs paid for? Does the childcare provider minus it from monthly bill or do you "claim" it back?

Thanks

All kinds of reasons since it was expanded last year.

Qualifying income (off the top of my head, I think the figure is household income of less that £16000)
Child's special needs
Family's special need - depression or lack of parenting skills through either things like drug use or a special need the parents have, or I come across quite a few where Grandparents are caring for child and not coping well, or sometimes circumstances such as things going on in the rest of the family.

If you feel you need it, then speak to someone at your Children's Centre or your HV. There is a panel that meets to approve funding, it's not 100% cut and dried.

Here

Wow! Ok thank you

It is quite straight forward for most people;

Qualifying benefits being paid - Income support or pension credit.

The highest rate of Child tax credit being paid.

A child who is looked after or who has been looked after for over 6months at some point.

Also as BackforGood said there are other circumstances where the funding can be awarded, but this would need to be supported by a professional who was working with the family.

In our LA you receive a letter if you are identified as someone who may qualify and then you need to either reply in writing or online and they send you the decision letter pretty quickly and tell you the date that the award will start from.

As far as I am aware it is paid directly to the nursery and then you are invoiced for anything above the 15 hours a week that you use. As with the over 3's universal entitlement it is only payable in term time.