You can use our Citizen Portal to check eligibility and apply for free childcare for 2-year-olds.
Apply for free childcare for 2 year olds here
Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- get Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.
If you’re a non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits
If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:
- £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
- £34,500 for families within London with one child
- £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
- £38,600 for families within London with two or more children
You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.
If you’re eligible the childcare starts the first school term after your child's second birthday.
The date of birth criteria are as follows:
- Children born in the period 1 January to 31 March: the start of term beginning on or following 1 April after the child’s second birthday
- Children born in the period 1 April to 31 August: the start of term beginning on or following 1 September after the child’s second birthday
- Children born in the period 1 September to 31 December: the start of term beginning on or following 1 January after the child’s second birthday.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the Families Information Service on tel no: 01642 527225.