PARENTS should be aware of fast-approaching deadline to apply for free child care support.
The government has confirmed that you need to apply for a childcare code by March 31 for the free hours to kick in by the time the new term starts.
That means if your term starts in April you need to apply for a code by March 31, giving parents just weeks to apply.
The childcare code gives you access to 15 free hours of government funded early education, for children aged nine months up to two years old.
This can be combined with the universal 15 hours to make 30 hours of free childcare when your child turns 3 or 4.
Parents can now apply for the codes to help reduce the costs of looking after their little ones.
You can apply online via the Gov.uk website and once you do you will receive a code which you can give to your childcare provider to get money off.
You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to seven days.
How much support you receive depends on your child’s age and whether you are working and your income or your partner’s income if you have one.
It is also worth noting that not every nursery offers the free government support.
So it may be worth checking with your local providers to see what they offer ahead of time.
Some providers may charge for extra services, such as providing lunch and nappies, or optional extras such as trips, in addition to the government funded childcare.
If you are a parent who is returning to work you must also apply for a code.
If you foster your child, you can claim free childcare if you’re working as long as you are in paid work outside of your fostering role.
It’s important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months.
To do this, you’ll need to remember to login to your childcare account to check when your reconfirmation dates are, so that you can renew your code on time.
If you don’t renew it on time, you will need to reapply.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE SUPPORT?
To qualify, you’ll need to earn at least the equivalent of the national minimum wage for 16 hours a week.
Both parents will need to earn at least £166 per week each, with a taxable income of no more than £100,000.
Your two-year-old can also 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
To apply for the support you need the following:
- your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)
- the date you started or are due to start work
- details of any government support or benefits you receive
- the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.
WHAT OTHER SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES?
Parents on Universal Credit and in a paid job can have up to 85% of their childcare costs covered, up to £1,014.63 a month for one child and £1,739.37 a month for two or more children.
It doesn’t matter how many hours you work.
If you live with a partner, you both need to work to qualify.
You usually have to pay for the childcare and claim back the costs, but if you go back to work or increase your hours you can request that the money be paid upfront.
You can get child benefit if you’re responsible for a child aged under 16, or if they are under 20 and in approved education or training.
Child benefit is currently worth £25.60 a week for the eldest child or only child. For each subsequent child, parents get £16.95 a week.
The cash is paid every four weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can apply for.
Bear in mind though, that those who earn more than £60,000 a year have to start paying back some of their child benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
If you or your partner earns £80,000 or more, you have to pay all your entitlement back.
You have to pay the HICBC to HMRC through self-assessment.
How to claim Child Benefit
Child benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for your first or only child and up to £881 a year for additional children.
This works out at £102.40 every four weeks or £25.60 a week for your first child and £67.80 every 4 weeks or £16.95 a week for their siblings.
There is no limit on the number of children that can be claimed for.
Applying is straightforward and can be done in minutes at gov.uk or through the HMRC app.
Parents with a newborn baby should make a claim online as soon as possible and could then receive their first payment in as little as three days.
You can also backdate claims for up to three months.
Parents can make a claim and then choose to opt out of receiving Child Benefit payments can still receive National Insurance credits if one parent is not working.
National Insurance credits build up your entitlement to the state pension.
