Turning a sideline into self employment and claiming free childcare for working parents

Anonymous4444

I am currently employed, and have also been running a business as a sideline for the last two years. I would like to know, if I were to leave my employment and become self employed, running my current sideline business as my only source of income, would I qualify for the ‘start up period’ of 12 months free childcare for working parents as I will be scaling my sideline up into my only income source? Thank you

peteuk

If you claim UC then you will be given a 12 month start up period.

For free childcare you need to earn £2,539 every 3 months, you can earn less if you are self-employed and started the buisness less than a year ago.

Im not sure the two mean the same thing, eg for UC you are given a years start up period on a new claim regardless of when you set up the business.  But for free childcare you must have started the buisness less than a year ago. 

Remeber free child care is 30 hours a week for 38 weeks.