To qualify:

• Each parent (or the sole parent in a single parent family) will need to earn on average, the equivalent of 16 hours on the national minimum wage per week (approx. £130) and no more than £100,000 per year
• Eligibility is based on income earned, not hours worked. If a parent works for less than 16 hours, but in that time, earns more than the average earnings threshold, they will still be eligible
• Self-employed parents & parents on zero-hours contracts will be eligible if they meet the average earnings threshold (excluding self-employed with a new start up business less than 12 months ago – no earnings limit)
• Parents can still be eligible if they usually work but;
  - one or both parents are away from work on statutory sick pay
  - one or both parents are on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
• In addition, parents are eligible if one parent is employed, but the other:
  - has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits for caring
  - is disabled or incapacitated based on specific benefits

Visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to check if you are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare. The website sets out all current and upcoming childcare offers and support available to parents, including; Tax-Free Childcare scheme, 15 and 30 free hours entitlement, tax credits, universal credit and childcare vouchers.

How to Apply:

• On the ‘childcare choices’ website, scroll down to ’30 hours free childcare’ and click ‘Apply’

What you will need (for you and your partner if you have one):

• National Insurance number
• If you’re self employed, your Unique Taxpayer Reference
• Your income
• The date you started, or are due to start work
• Details of any other government support you get
• Log in details for your Government Gateway account (if you have one)

What will happen next?

• You may get your 11 digit eligibility code on-screen immediately after application, or it could take up to 7 days
• You must give this code to us to validate with Kent County Council
• HMRC require you to renew your eligibility every 3 months. They should email you a reminder to do this, but pop the date on your calendar just in case, because failure to renew will result in you losing your funding