Apply for funded childcare for 2 year olds

You'll be eligible if you get any of the following benefits or you are working and on low income:

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Universal Credit - if you and your partner are on a low income from work (usually a combined income of less than £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefits payments)

• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

If you meet this criteria, apply direct with us using our eligibility checker below.

Eligibility checker for families receiving government support

If you do not get any of the above benefits you may still be eligible if your child:

• is looked after by the council

• is identified as a child in need

• has a child protection plan

• has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order, or adoption order*

• gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

• has a current education, health and care (EHC) plan

• meets the criteria for portage from Lancashire County Council (please note referrals relating to this criteria can only be submitted by the Portage Team)

• is of Gypsy Roma Traveller Heritage residing in Lancashire

• is a child of serving armed forces personnel (excluding reserves) residing in Lancashire

If your child meets any of the criteria, contact one of the people or teams below and they will be able to complete a referral on your behalf:

• social worker

• health visitor

• Children and Family Wellbeing Service or

• Portage worker

*If your child has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order, adoption order or is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance you can send a copy of the order or DLA award letter by email to; 2YOapplications@lancashire.gov.uk.

Once we get the referral we will send you an email or letter to confirm your child can claim a funded place.

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still be eligible for a funded 2-year-old place. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families living outside of London with one child

• £30,600 for families living outside of London with two or more children

• £16,000 in savings or investments.

If you have no recourse to public funds and your household income and savings are both less than the limits specified above, and you fall under any of the criteria below please apply using the application form. Please provide evidence of your income and immigration status and return by email to 2yoapplications@lancashire.gov.uk

Application for two-year-old funded childcare for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) (DOCX 44 KB)

• Zambrano carers

• families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights

• families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

• those who have claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as ‘part 6’)

• a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Chen carers

• families holding a BN(O) passport

• spousal visa holders

• work visa holders

• student visa holders

• those with no immigration status

• those with a UK Ancestry Visa

• those with temporary protection status under Section 12 of the Immigration and Nationality Act

• those with pre-settled status who do not meet the qualifying right to reside test

Eligible working parents can now apply for 30 hours of funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age. See our guide to 30 hours childcare for working families for more information.