Can parents lose their eligibility to funded hours
Parents who access the following funded entitlements will still be access their hours regardless of a change of family circumstances or household income:
- Think2 – 15 funded hours for 2 year olds - for disadvantaged or low income families. Once eligibility is confirmed families do not lose funding and they will receive this until the child becomes eligible for the Universal Hours for 3 and 4 year olds.
- Universal Hours 15 hours for 3 and 4 year olds – all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to this funding which also includes children who have moved to England from another country.
Parents who access the Working Parent Entitlements could fall out of eligibility if they no longer meet the criteria or parents have not reconfirmed their code through *their online account.
- Working Parent Entitlements – 30 hours for children aged from 9 months to (and including) 2 year olds – parents who fall out of eligibility could lose all their funded hours and would be required to pay childcare costs at their early years provider.
- Working Parent Entitlements – 30 hours for children for 3 and 4 year olds - parents who fall out of eligibility could lose the 15 hours of their working parent entitlement and may have to pay for childcare on the funded hours lost, but will still be able to access the funded universal 15 hours.
*Foster carers will be prompted to reconfirm by the council.
- Grace period - families who fall out of eligibility receive a 'grace period' of funding. This is a few additional weeks of funding after eligibility has lapsed that could help parents time to seek employment or re-confirm their code with Childcare Choices.
Families who fall out of eligibility of the Working Parent Entitlement should refer to Best Start for Life to see if any other support is available to help with childcare costs.
Families who pay for additional childcare over and above the funded hours can use other support to help pay towards childcare costs i.e. Tax Free Childcare.
