Childcare funding
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Ohhh okay, thank you! Shall I reapply for both 31 days before I’m due back? Or will they automatically issue me a code for the childcare funding? Serious panic stations this morning!
It’s one application, so if you apply within the 31 days of returning to work you’ll get your tax free childcare (assuming you’re eligible) and now I believe it’s one application that means you’ll get the funding code as well, so that it’s ready to use from January.
If your baby was born in January, you won't be eligible for the 15 hours until the start of the following term, so April unfortunately
@Kirsty Not true. Jan babies turn 9mo in October, so eligible from Jan.
How do you apply?
@Alice https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working
@Kirsty as above, as it's 9 months funding rather than 12 months funding it's applicable the term after they turn 9 months.
I'm due back to work 9th January so do I need to apply in December or earlier?
@Vicky can’t apply any earlier than 31 days before you return to work for tax free childcare- same application for the funded hours, so no point in rushing to do it any sooner than that
Thanks @Chloe . Also is it right it only covers funding for term time? So basically 39 weeks of the year?
@Vicky Yes, some nurseries or childminders will “stretch” the funding, so you get less than 15h funded in the term time weeks, but you get some funded hours every week of the year, which helps bring your bill down for the entire year, but not all providers offer that. My nursery don’t technically stretch it, but they operate with an average invoice arrangement over the year so that we pay the same amount every month no matter how many funded or unfunded weeks there are. Don’t forget consumable fees too 😓 They’re typically charged the whole year round. Good to try and work out what your provider will do so that you can budget for it!
@Chloe oh this isn't what I was told from the nursery I planned to use! Thanks for that
Thank you for the info @Chloe
Is it saying the tax free childcare is what you’re not eligible for, as it’s one application, because you can’t apply for that until it’s less than 31 days until you start back at work. You’re not going to miss it.