UK-wide
Funded childcare hours
Last verified: 4 October 2026. We check the official source every night. How we verify.
Government-funded hours with an approved childcare provider. In England this includes age-based offers sometimes described as 15 or 30 hours. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own funded-hours schemes.
How much you could get
This is hours of childcare, not a cash benefit. The number of funded hours depends on the child’s age and the nation you live in. Use the official childcare calculator on GOV.UK or the equivalent devolved page.
Check the current amount on the official page.
Who can claim
Eligibility depends on the child’s age, where you live, and for some offers whether parents work enough hours. You usually apply for a code through the official childcare service and give it to a participating provider.
Eligibility conditions
These are the structured conditions Benefit Badger uses in the eligibility check. They are a guide, not a decision.
- You live in the UK.
- You are responsible for a child.
Check if Funded childcare hours may apply to you
It usually takes about 5 minutes. You do not need to create an account. This is guidance, not a government decision.
When it may not apply
Not every provider offers every number of hours, and some charge for extras. Tax-Free Childcare is a different scheme. Devolved nations do not use the English 30-hours code.
Where you live
Funded childcare hours is available UK-wide, but the claim route can still differ across nations.
Browse benefits in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the A–Z list.
How to claim
- Start from the GOV.UK childcare codes service for England. Hours of funded childcare (including 15 and 30 hour offers where they apply) are applied for through the official childcare account, then a code is given to the provider. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different offers. Official page
- Check the child’s age and your working hours. Eligibility depends on age bands and, for some offers, parent work status. The official calculator is more reliable than a blog post from last year.
- Give the code to a participating provider each term. Codes expire. Your provider confirms the place; local authorities fund it. Benefit Badger cannot issue a code.
- This is not Tax-Free Childcare. Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can interact. Read both GOV.UK pages so you do not double-count the same hours incorrectly.
Official sources
- Free Childcare for Working Parents — GOV.UK (primary source)
Related benefits
See all children and pregnancy benefits.
Source: HMRC / local authorities / devolved governments. This page is guidance from an independent service, not a government decision. Only the relevant government department can confirm eligibility and make a payment.
Check if this may apply to you
It usually takes about 5 minutes. You do not need to create an account. This is guidance, not a government decision.