15 hours early learning for families in England receiving some additional forms of support

Your 2-year-old can get funded early learning 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

Your benefits will not be affected if you take up the 15 hours early learning offer.

2-year-olds can also get funded 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 

30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England

From September 2025, 15 hours for eligible working families will expand to 30 hours, meaning eligible working parents can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months, until they start school. 

You can usually get funded childcare for working parents if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work or starting a new job
• on sick leave or annual leave
• on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave

The amount of funded childcare you can get depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

If you are not eligible for the working parent offer you will still receive the 15 hours entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds from the term after your child turns 3 until they start school, irrespective of your income level, benefit status, or family circumstances.