🍼 Final Phase Rollout

30 Free Hours Childcare Calculator

Check if you qualify for the 2026 childcare subsidies. If you earn over £100,000, find out how much you need to put in your pension to avoid the brutal cliff-edge.

Childcare Savings Calculator (2026 Rules)

Family Status

Number of children under 5 (not in school)

Your Annual Income (£)

Partner's Annual Income (£)

30 Free Hours Eligibility

StatusEligible

Estimated Annual Savings:£6,900

By qualifying for the 30 free hours, your family saves approximately £6,900 per year per child in childcare costs.

The £100k Childcare Cliff-Edge

The government's final phase of the childcare expansion guarantees 30 free hours to working parents for children aged 9 months upwards. This saves the average family around £6,900 per year, per child.

However, the eligibility rules contain one of the most punitive tax traps in the UK system: The £100k Cliff-Edge.

If you or your partner earn even £1 over £100,000 in Adjusted Net Income, you lose the entire 30 hours immediately. There is no taper. This means a £1 pay rise could result in a £7,000 loss. Use the calculator above to see if you can use pension contributions to stay below the threshold and save your childcare subsidies.

Childcare Subsidy FAQs

What is the 30 free hours childcare scheme?

The government provides 30 free hours of childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. By September 2025, this rollout applies to all eligible working parents with children from 9 months old up to school age.

Do I qualify for 30 free hours?

To qualify, you (and your partner if you have one) must each expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage. However, if either of you has an Adjusted Net Income over £100,000, you will lose all of your free hours.

What is the £100k childcare trap?

The eligibility for 30 free hours is a strict cliff-edge. If you earn £99,999, you get the full 30 free hours. If you earn £100,001, you get 0 free hours. This means earning just £2 extra could cost you £7,000 in childcare bills.

How can I avoid losing my childcare hours if I earn over £100k?

You can reduce your Adjusted Net Income by making pension contributions or using salary sacrifice schemes (like cycle-to-work or buying extra holiday). If these reduce your taxable pay below £100,000, you will instantly regain your free childcare hours.