Tax free childcare age limit

Letsgetmoving

I have a ten year old and the guidance says the eligibility ends the September after they turn 11, based I imagine on English school rules as this would take them right through primary school.

However in Northern Ireland the cut off date is 1st July, so my child would turn 11 in August and then lose her eligibility a few weeks later when she starts her last year of primary.

Can I put the maximum in during the next year to get the benefit and then pay the crèche over the year after? What happens to the account when she loses eligibility? Unfortunately my younger child is an august baby too so we’ll lose a year of the benefit for him too.

sheramber

As far as I understand you will not get the government top up after 1 September. 

you can put extra in at any time but will not get any more government top up than the  highest allowable amount for each three month period.