In England, you can get up to 15 hours* of free childcare a week if you are working and your child is at least 9 months old and under 3; if your child is aged 3 or 4, you can get up to 30 hours’ free childcare a week.

You (and your partner, if you have one) must normally be in work and over the next three months must each expect to earn an amount equivalent to working for at least 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage that applies in your case (see Box H.5).

You may still be eligible for the childcare if just one of you is in work and the other receives employment and support allowance, carer’s allowance or has been accepted as having a limited capability for work for universal credit (see Chapter 12(2) ).

For details, see www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working .

* the government intends to increase this to 30 hours from September 2025