Help paying for childcare

Government schemes

• Funded childcare for children whose parents are receiving some form of government support
• Funded childcare for working families with 2-year-olds

Funded childcare for children whose parents are receiving some form of government support 

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Your 2-year-old child could get funded childcare (up to 570 hours per year) if you receive 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).

Apply for funded childcare for 2-year-olds (receiving government support)

Please note: If your application is not successful but you believe you meet the eligibility criteria above, please email fis@hillingdon.gov.uk.

2-year-olds can also get funded childcare if they:

• are looked after by a local authority
• have an Education, Health and Care Plan
• get Disability Living Allowance
• have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
• you are a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits.

If you want to apply under any of these criteria, email the Families' Information Service at fis@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Funded childcare for working families with 2-year-olds

From April 2024, 15 hours funded childcare will be available to eligible working families of 2-year-olds  (from the term after the child's 2nd birthday).

Eligible working families can receive 15 hours of funded childcare starting the term after your child turns 9 months old. From September 2025, eligible families will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare per week during term time for children aged 9 months to 4-year-olds.

To qualify, you (and any partner) must each expect to earn (on average) at least £195 per week (equal to 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage).  

If you (or your partner) are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible. 

You will not qualify for funded childcare if you or your partner each individually expect to earn £100,000 adjusted net income or more. 

You must apply for a code before the term you want to start using the funded childcare. 

Read more about childcare support for working families

In order to get a better understanding of what the demand might be for the expanded early years entitlement and wraparound childcare, we're asking parents and carers to complete our online survey.