30-Hour Eligibility Code Verification

What is a 30-Hour Code?

Working parents of 3-4 year olds may be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week (instead of the universal 15 hours). To claim this, they must obtain an 11-digit eligibility code from HMRC's Childcare Service.

Who is Eligible?

Parents must meet these criteria:

• Each parent earning at least National Minimum Wage for 16 hours per week
• Neither parent earning over £100,000 per year
• Living in England
• Child aged 3-4 (from term after 3rd birthday)

Obtaining a Code

Parents apply through the Childcare Service at gov.uk/apply-30-hours-free-childcare. They receive an 11-digit code which they provide when completing the funding declaration.

Verification Process

Staff must verify each 30-hour code before approving a submission. The verification is done through your local authority's Provider Portal.

Step-by-Step Verification

1. Access the Review page for the submission
2. Note the 30-hour code displayed in the Funding Information section
3. Click the verification link to open your local authority's Provider Portal (configured in nursery settings)
4. Enter the required details on the LA portal:
   • Child's date of birth
   • Parent's National Insurance number
   • The 11-digit eligibility code
5. Check the portal response - it confirms if the code is valid and shows the expiry date
6. Return to the submission and check the 'I confirm I have verified the 30-hour code' checkbox
7. Upload evidence (optional but recommended):
   • Take a screenshot of the LA portal confirmation
   • Click 'Upload Evidence' and select the image/PDF file
   • Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, PDF (max 10MB)
8. Add verification notes (optional) - e.g., 'Verified on LA portal 15/01/2025, valid until 31/03/2025'
9. Approve the submission - the verification is recorded with your user ID and timestamp

Verification Evidence

Uploaded evidence is stored with the submission and includes:

• The uploaded file (screenshot or PDF)
• Verification timestamp
• Name of staff member who verified
• Any notes added during verification

This creates an audit trail for compliance and local authority queries.

Code Expiry

Codes must be reconfirmed by parents every 3 months. If a code expires:

• A 'grace period' allows continued claims briefly
• Advise the parent to reconfirm their eligibility at gov.uk
• If not reconfirmed, funding drops back to 15 hours

Blocking Approval

For submissions claiming extended (30-hour) funding:

• Approval is blocked until you confirm code verification
• You must check the verification checkbox to proceed
• Evidence upload is optional but strongly recommended