15 hours funded childcare for families receiving additional support (Disadvantaged Entitlement)

You must apply for this entitlement online or download the application form: 

Parent or carers of 2-year-old children who receive one of the following benefits can receive up to 15 funded hours per week (over 38 weeks of the year), or fewer hours over more weeks of the year:

• Income Support

• Income based Job Seekers Allowance

• Income related Employment Support Allowance

• The guarantee element of Pension Credit

• Tax Credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax

• Working tax credit 4 week run-on

• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less before tax, not including benefit payments

You must supply supporting evidence if applying under the following criteria:

• Children who attract Disability Living Allowance, please provide a recent copy of the letter showing the benefit to support your application

• Children who have left care through a special guardianship, adoption or child arrangement order

Please email the below supporting evidence to freefortwos@peterborough.gov.uk when you have submitted your online application.

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF), you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families outside of London with 1 child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with 2 or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments. We will require a photo of your Biometric Residence Permit or your "share code" to check your immigration status online and evidence of income such as a pay slip or P60 for you and your partner, if applicable.

Please send supporting information by email to freefortwos@peterborough.gov.uk.

Other eligible groups of children

• Children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan

• Children looked after by the local authority

Referrals under this section must be made by a professional third party such as a social worker, health professional or practitioner. Parents cannot self-refer. Additional information may be requested. Please apply by downloading the application form and return via email to freefortwos@peterborough.gov.uk.

30 hours funded childcare for working families

From September 2025, children aged from 9 months+ of working parents may be entitled to 1,140 hours per year funded childcare through the Working Parent Entitlement.

Eligible families can receive up to 30 hours funded per week for their child over 38 weeks of the year, or fewer hours over more weeks of the year. The offer is not 30 hours funded each week of the year.

More information and how to apply can be found on the 15 hours funded childcare from 9 months page.

What should I do if I am eligible for Working Parent Entitlement and Disadvantaged Entitlement?

We would advise applying for both entitlements.

If you are entitled to both, the maximum number of hours you could receive would be 30 hours funded per week over 38 weeks of the year, or fewer hours over more weeks of the year, but there are benefits to having both options in place.

There are application deadlines in place for Working Parent Entitlement, which can mean some families must wait to take up this entitlement if they do not apply in time. You must also reconfirm eligibility every 3 months, which means if your circumstances change, this entitlement would end after a grace period.

The Disadvantaged Entitlement funding route does not have application deadlines, and if your child is age eligible, funding could commence straight away if you are eligible. You also do not need to reconfirm eligibility every 3 months; once funding is offered, it remains in place until your child is age eligible to receive their universal entitlement which all 3 and 4-year-olds can receive. Having funding approved through this route in addition to the Working Parent Entitlement means that you are guaranteed 15 funded hours if you fall out of eligibility for Working Parent Entitlement.

At present, children who are eligible for Disadvantaged Entitlement through economic criteria can also receive Holiday Food Vouchers.

Age eligibility for Disadvantaged 2-year-old funding

You can apply for funding from the beginning of the term your child turns 2.

Further information about childcare costs

We would recommend parents complete the government's childcare calculator tool to find out what financial help could be available to them to support with childcare costs.

For more details about all government schemes, visit the Childcare Choices website.