15 hour funded childcare (for over 2s) and self employed

liz2024

I am self employed and at the end of this tax year I will have earn't less than the £12570 and so wont need to pay any tax or NI. I always have the option of paying the voluntary class 2 NI contribution. I didn't bother last year because I get NI top up for my pension due to having children under 16. However, this year I want to apply for the 15 hours of childcare funding coming in April 2024 for my now 2 year old. I should qualify because I am over the minimum wage, but I'm also wondering if I need to pay the NI voluntary contribution for this tax year (23-24) to get the childcare funding? There is nothing about this on the government webpages. But I know you have to have paid NI to get other benefits (e.g. SMP) so I don't want to get this wrong when I submit my tax return after 6th April 2024.