# Funded hours checker

In England, working parents can get 30 funded hours a week from 9 months old, every 3 and 4-year-old gets 15 hours, and some 2-year-olds get 15 hours if the family gets certain benefits. Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit can help with the rest. Answer a few questions to see which apply to you and from when.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/funded-hours-checker (inputs are URL query parameters, so any result can be linked).

## Example: working couple, child born 14 April 2026

- **Free Childcare for Working Parents**: Not yet, from 1 April 2027 (30 hours a week, 38 weeks a year) Your child turns 9 months on 14 January 2027, so hours start from 1 April 2027. Apply from 22 September 2026 and by 31 March 2027.
- **15 hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds**: Not yet, from 1 September 2029 (15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year) Every 3 and 4-year-old in England, whatever your income, from the term after their 3rd birthday (1 September 2029). As a working family these 15 hours are part of your 30, not on top.
- **15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds (Early Learning for 2 year olds)**: Not eligible (15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year) For families on certain benefits (Universal Credit with take-home pay of £15,400 a year or less, not counting benefits, and some others) or children with an EHC plan, Disability Living Allowance, or who are or were in care.
- **Tax-Free Childcare**: You qualify (20% top-up, up to £500 every 3 months) Usable alongside funded hours, for fees above them and for extras the nursery supplies. Your nursery must be signed up.
- **Universal Credit childcare costs**: Not eligible (up to 85% of childcare costs) Only if you claim Universal Credit. If your income is low, a benefits calculator will tell you whether you could.

## Assumptions

- You live in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different schemes, which this checker does not cover yet.
- HMRC and your council make the decision; this checker explains the published rules. Some groups not listed here (for example foster carers, some carers and newly self-employed parents) have their own rules on gov.uk.
- Working-parent codes must be reconfirmed every 3 months.

## Next steps

- [Exact start dates for this child](https://toddly.co.uk/funded-hours-start-date?dob=2026-04-14)

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I get 30 hours if only one of us works?

Usually not: in a couple both parents need to be working (or on leave) and each earning at least the minimum-wage equivalent of 16 hours a week. There are exceptions if the non-working partner is a carer or gets certain disability or incapacity benefits.

### What is adjusted net income?

Your taxable income minus things like pension contributions and Gift Aid donations. If either parent expects it to be over £100,000 this tax year you cannot get the working-parent hours or Tax-Free Childcare. Paying more into a pension can bring it below the limit.

### Do the universal 15 hours depend on income?

No. Every 3 and 4-year-old in England can get 570 funded hours a year from the term after their 3rd birthday, whatever the parents earn. Working families get them as part of their 30 hours.

### Can I get Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit?

Not at the same time. Compare which helps you more first, and wait for a Tax-Free Childcare decision before you end a Universal Credit claim.

## Sources

- Free Childcare for Working Parents: eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/check-youre-eligible, checked 11 November 2026
- When to apply and term start dates: https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/when-to-apply, checked 11 November 2026
- 15 hours for 3 and 4-year-olds: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-3-to-4-year-olds, checked 11 November 2026
- 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/15-hours-free-childcare-early-learning-2-year-olds, checked 11 November 2026
- Tax-Free Childcare: https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare, checked 11 November 2026
- Universal Credit childcare costs: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/universal-credit, checked 11 November 2026