30 free hours childcare eligibility

[canary1]

Apologies for being unable to grasp this entirely. My understanding from reading the criteria.is that if either party earns more than 100k you are not eligible. But does this mean each parent could earn 99k and they are eligible for this? It doesn’t seem clear if it’s combined income of ore 100k that makes you ineligible, which is what I assumed before reading it. Having read it, now it seems that both parties could earn 99k and they can claim the 30 free hours from age 3? Please if anyone can clarify that would be so helpful !

Yep, that's right.

I was under the impression that it's 15 hours for 3 yr olds unless you have a much lower household income, i.e low enough to claim tax credits, then you get the 30 hours, which imo is a bit pointless because any reduction in childcare fees only gets reduced in tax credits amount so really there isn't any actual savings.

Personally I think the government would be better off giving the 15 hours childcare to those on benefits (as they'll be reduced in benefit amount anyway so no better off), but then give the 30 hours to those who don't qualify for benefit help with childcare costs, because then at least they'll be seeing a difference financially

I get the 30 hours and we aren't a low income household. If your dc is 3 or 4, both you and your partner (or just you if you're single) are in work for enough hours, and neither of you earn over £100k, you're eligible:

Eligibility
You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

in work - or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week - this is £125.28 if you’re over 25
This earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.

You’re not eligible if:

^your child does not usually live with you
either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000^
you’re from outside the EEA and your UK residence card says you cannot access public funds

Why should those on benefits get free childcare? If you’re not working you don’t need childcare. Give it to working families

@icannotremember oh I'm mistaken then, I knew that those on lower incomes can claim 15 hours from 2yrs, but I thought that from 3 it's goes up to 30 for low incomes and 15 hours are introduced for everyone else

@Fabaunt I don't know if your post was a reply to mine, but I feel it may have been, and in that case please read what I said again... I actually was trying to say that imo those who are not eligible to benefits should be getting more hours than those who can claim because they will see the financial benefits to the funding, whereas the ones who get benefits will often find that the benefits are reduced by the amount they're saving with the funded childcare, so not really any difference financially.
I myself claim benefits and have found that my tax credits went down when I became eligible to funding for the 30 hours, so I am now barely more than £1 better off weekly than I was before I got the funded hours.

Oh also, I do work, and if you stopped being so ignorant and cared to do some research you would find that most people on benefits are actually in work. In fact, for myself and many many others the help of benefits enables us to work, because otherwise we wouldn't be able to afford childcare and living essentials on just our low incomes

It’s not for low income families, I wouldn’t call any figure under 100k per year a low income family.

Your understanding is correct OP, both parents could be earning 99k per year and be eligible, if either earns above 100k you are not eligible but get the universal 15 hours.

The funded hours for low income family 2 year olds is absolutley nothing to do with 3-4 year old funding.

I’m not sure why people who know nothing about nursery funding repeatedly come on to these threads and confuse matters for the op further.

@fabaunt the 15 hour funding for those on a low income or unemployed is more for the children's benefit than the adults. Children in these situations are deemed more at risk and if they didn't get free early years education they would likely not be seen until they start school which is a very long time if they have issues or are living in a detrimental environment. You can't deny the children early years education or support just because their parents don't work. I say this as a working mother of 2 children so I understand the frustration but don't think it is fully understood why the system is in place.

@fabaunt as MrsG says the 15hrs 2yr funding is nothing to do with 'free childcare'.
All the research consistently shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds, of which low income is one indicator, tend to do less well at school. And that this attainment gap often, if not addressed early on, follows them through their school life affecting their life chances down the line. The early years funding is aimed at addressing this. As someone who is not eligible for this, I fully support it being available for children who do need it.

summer I think they've changed things quite a few times over the last few years so no wonder people are confused. I often am!

Many thanks for your replies, thanks icannotremember as that was my understanding too. Slightly irritating as I’m on 55 and DH on 105....we’d be better off for the 30 free hours if he dropped a few and I gained some !!!

Can your DH increase pension contributions? I hear people give this advice re the CB clawback, it might be useful here too?