Reconfirm your eligibility for funded childcare and/or Tax-Free Childcare

You must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months, if you're claiming or have applied for:

• 15 hours funded childcare for 2 year olds
• 30 hours funded childcare
• Tax-Free Childcare

You must reconfirm 3 months from the date you applied, even if you haven't started using these funding schemes yet. 

How do I reconfirm?

You will get a text and/or email 4 weeks before your reconfirmation deadline. This will prompt you to log into your childcare account.

When you're in the account go to 'secure messages'. You can access this section at any time. Check the 'reconfirmation' section to find your reconfirmation date.

You can reconfirm your eligibility up to 4 weeks before your reconfirmation date.

The next steps of the reconfirmation process will depend on your circumstances:

Your circumstances haven't changed

You will need to tick a box to confirm that your circumstances haven't changed. You won't receive a new code but your existing one will be extended for another 3 months.  Reconfirm 30 hours and/or Tax-Free Childcare

Your circumstances have changed

You must amend and resubmit your details. 

You completed your original application over the phone

You need to phone the HMRC Customer Service helpline to reconfirm your eligibility.

You currently have a temporary code 

The reconfirmation process may differ for some parents. Such as if:

• your circumstances haven't changed you will need to tick a box to confirm this. You will not receive a new code but the existing one will get extended for 3 more months
• your circumstances have changed you must amend and resubmit your details
• you completed your original application over the phone. You will need to phone the HMRC Childcare Service helpline to reconfirm your eligibility
• you currently have a temporary code (these start with 11) you must complete a new application. You must do this through your childcare service account to get a permanent code

Access your account

Follow our childcare account guidance if you can't get into your account. 

What if I miss the reconfirmation deadline?

Your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare and/or 30 hours funded childcare will end if you miss the reconfirmation deadline. You'll get a message to confirm that:

• if your child receives 30 hours funded childcare, you'll be able to keep your childcare place for a grace period. Your childcare provider can tell you how long this will last. A grace period will always end at the end of a term. The grace period only applies if your child is already in a 30 hours place when you fall out of eligibility
• if you're using Tax-Free Childcare your account will become 'pay only'. You'll still be able to pay money in and pay your childcare provider using your account, but you won't receive any of the government top-up on the money you pay in

If you don't reconfirm on time, you'll need to log in to your childcare account to reconfirm your eligibility within the next entitlement period.

What if I'm no longer eligible?

If you're no longer eligible and:

• your child receives 30 hours funded childcare, you'll be able to keep your childcare place for a grace period. Your childcare provider can tell you how long this will last
• you're using Tax-Free Childcare your account will become 'pay only'. You'll still be able to pay money in and pay your childcare provider using your account, but you won't receive any of the government top-up on the money you pay in

If you become eligible again in the future, you can re-start your Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours funded childcare by reconfirming your details in your childcare account.