30 hours' funded childcare for foster children

In single carer foster families, the foster parent/s engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent/s or will be taking up paid employment within the next 31 days. There is no minimum earnings limit, but the carer cannot earn more than £100,000.

In two-carer foster families, both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent or will be taking up paid work within the next 31 days. There is no minimum earning limit, but neither carer can earn more than £100,000.

If one partner is not a foster parent, they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum or national living wage and no more than £100,000.

You may still be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if one foster parent holds additional employment outside of their role as a foster parent, and one carer does not hold additional employment but is receipt of one of the following benefits:

• for Universal Credit purposes, they are assessed as having limited capability for work
• receive National Insurance credits because of incapacity or limited capability for work
• receive a Carer's Allowance
• receive an Employment and Support Allowance
• receive Incapacity Benefit
• receive a Severe Disablement Allowance