COVID19: Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare changes eligibility have changed during Coronavirus

Temporary changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare, during coronavirus.

The changes may affect you if you, or someone you live with, are:

on furlough
not able to work or you’re working less
self-employed
a critical worker

Check if you can get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare during coronavirus (COVID-19)

To help make sure critical workers can continue to access the childcare they need to enable them to work, even if their circumstances have changed during coronavirus (COVID-19), HMRC have made some temporary changes.

If you’re on furlough

If your employer has no work for you they might be able to keep you on the payroll and put you on temporary leave instead. This is known as being put ‘on furlough’ and you’re paid 80% of wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

You should apply, or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account, if your wage, and your partner’s wage if you have one, is:

at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week
below the normal minimum income requirement, but you’d normally expect to meet the income requirement

If you’re not able to work or you’re working less

You should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if you’re:

getting sick pay or statutory sick pay (SSP) – time spent on sick pay or SSP will count as working and meeting the minimum income requirement
taking unpaid leave to care for others, such as your children – if you expect your income to meet the minimum income requirement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus
living with someone who has coronavirus – you must stay at home – if you expect your income to meet the minimum income agreement (at least the National Minimum Wage for 16 hours a week) after coronavirus
working less, your hours have been reduced and your wage:
- meets the minimum earnings requirement
- is below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it

If you’re made redundant

If you’re made redundant you’re not eligible to apply or reconfirm you have a childcare account because you’re:

no longer in work
not meeting the minimum income requirement

If you start employment again and expect to earn above the minimum income requirement you can apply 31 days before you start your new job.

If you’re self-employed

You should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account if you are:

continuing to work, and your earnings:
- are above the minimum earnings requirement
- are below the normal minimum earnings requirement but you would normally expect to earn above it
not able to get work because of coronavirus:
- you may be eligible to claim a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – payments made to you through the scheme will count as earnings
- and you’re not eligible for self-employed income support but would expect to earn at least the minimum income requirement

If you’re claiming Universal Credit

If you are now claiming Universal Credit and were getting:

Tax-Free Childcare, you cannot apply or reconfirm for Tax-Free Childcare – if you stop claiming Universal Credit you can apply for Tax-Free Childcare again
30 hours free childcare, and you meet the revised minimum income requirement or would expect to normally, you should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account

If you missed the 31 March deadline

If you’ve missed the application or reconfirmation deadline for 30 hours free childcare, you should apply or reconfirm if you already have a childcare account.

Local authorities will be able to extend the validity dates on 30 hours codes for eligible critical worker parents during the summer term.

If you’re a critical worker & if you’re working more

If you’re a critical worker you may have exceeded the maximum income threshold of £100,000 per year. If this is because of increased hours as a direct result of coronavirus, you’ll still be eligible for 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare for the current tax year.

Apply or reconfirm

Find out about Tax-Free Childcare and how to apply.

Find out about 30 hours free childcare and how to apply.

Here you can access your childcare account: Sign in to your childcare account

Our business contingency plan is in place and we will do everything we can to support our clients during this uncertain period, please do not hesitate to contact us here if you have any concerns or queries.

Visit our COVID19 Business Hub for more information

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The information contained above is for general guidance purposes only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the contents are accurate, please note that each individual has different circumstances and it is essential that you seek appropriate professional advice before you act on any of the information contained herein. HB Accountants can accept no liability for any errors or omission or for any person acting on or refraining from acting on the information provided in the above