HOW TO CLAIM £2,000 A YEAR

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

THE scheme is paid to working parents with children aged 11 and under.

To qualify, both parents must be in work — either full or parttime — and each earning at least £142 a week, but not more than £100,000 a year.

This means that if both partners earn £99,000 they qualify for help. However, if one earns more than £100,000 while the other earns less, the family is not eligible.

Your ‘partner’ means the person you live with. They do not necessarily have to be the child’s other parent.

You can still qualify if you are self-employed, so long as you earn within the same income bracket.

WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

FIRST, you need to create an online childcare account at gov.uk/apply-for-taxfree-childcare.

You can then make a payment from your bank account or set up a standing order so money goes in regularly.

The Government should top up the fund the same day. So if you put in £8 it should become £10 within hours.

Grandparents and family friends may also put money into the account.

You can then use these funds to pay your childcare provider directly.

You must re-confirm that you are eligible for the support every three months.

WHAT DOES IT COVER?

THE funds can be used to pay for a range of childcare services, such as breakfast and afterschool clubs, nurseries, playgroups, childminders and nannies. Holiday activities are also included, for example tennis, football and art clubs.

The only requirement is that the provider is registered with the tax-free childcare scheme as well as with a regulator, such as Ofsted, the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register.