Your eligibility to claim the additional 30 hours is based upon you and your child meeting the following criteria:

• Your child must be over 3 years old when they take the place at a childcare provider
• Your child must be under compulsory school age
• Both parents must be working (or the sole parent in a lone parent family)
• Each parent aged 25 or over must earn, on average, at least £120 a week (the equivalent to 16 hours at National Living Wage)
• Each parent aged 24 or younger must earn, on average, at least the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage.
  

This means as a 21-24 year old you will earn over £112.80 a week
As an 18-20 year old you will earn over £89.60 a week
For under 18s you will earn over £64.80 a week

• Parents on an apprenticeship (age 19 or under) must earn at least £56 a week
• Parents must earn less than £100,000 each per year.
  

Please note, eligibility is based on income earned, not the number of hours worked.

Exceptions to the eligibility criteria

Families where one parent does not work (or neither parent works) will not usually be eligible, unless:

• Both parents are employed, but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave or on statutory sick pay
• One parent is employed and one parent either has substantial caring responsibilities, based on specific benefits received for caring
• One parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated, based on the receipt of specific benefits
  

How do I apply?

You can apply* for 30 hours of free early education and childcare through the Childcare Choices website.

*If you foster your child, you cannot use the online application to get 30 hours free childcare. Speak to your social worker and Family Information Service on 01634 332195 or email familyinfo@medway.gov.uk if you want to apply.

What happens if I lose eligibility?

• If you lose your eligibility you will receive a ‘grace period’ – this means you will be able to keep your childcare for a short period
• Once the ‘grace period’ has lapsed, your child will still be entitled to the universal 15-hour entitlement, but will lose the extended entitlement.
  

For further information on help with the cost of childcare and participating providers contact the Family Information Service on 01634 332195 or email familyinfo@medway.gov.uk.