Eligibility

You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Carer's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Limited Capability for Work Benefit, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance or the limited ability to work element of Universal Credit.

However, if you are a single parent on one of these benefits you will also need to be working and meet the income requirements to be eligible for this entitlement.

Alternatively, parents already receiving some additional forms of government support, such as Universal Credit or tax credits, can receive 15 hours of funded early education, including childcare, for 2-year-olds, separate from the new entitlement for working parents. All parents regardless of employment status or income levels are eligible for the universal 15 hours for 3- and 4-year-olds.