Funded childcare for two-year-olds

Your two-year-old can get funded early education or 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
• the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Two-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:

• are looked after by a local authority
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• get Disability Living Allowance
• have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

You may have to pay for extra costs such as:

• meals
• nappies
• additional hours
• additional activities, such as trips

If you're not eligible for free education and childcare for parents getting benefits, you may be able to get free childcare if you're working under a separate scheme.

If you're eligible for both schemes, you need to apply for Passport for 2s (for families in receipt of benefits or low income). You can fill in an application form online. 

If you're a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits, you may still get free childcare for your two-year-old if your immigration status says you have 'no recourse to public funds'. You must live in England and your household income after tax must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Contact your childcare provider or check with us if you're unsure if you can get free childcare.