Reconfirm Childcare Eligibility
Use this practical reconfirmation checker to review whether your childcare account details appear ready for the next three-month confirmation and understand the steps needed to keep your childcare code valid.
Check Your ReconfirmationCheck Your Deadline
Estimate whether your next childcare reconfirmation date is approaching or may already have passed.
Start CheckerReview Changes
Consider changes to work, income, household details, immigration status and your child’s circumstances.
See ChecklistKeep Your Code Valid
Understand how regular confirmation supports continued access to working-parent funded childcare.
Explore FundingReconfirm Childcare Eligibility Checker
Enter your previous confirmation date and answer a few planning questions. This independent tool gives a practical reminder, not an official eligibility decision.
Your Reconfirmation Details
Use the date shown in your childcare account wherever possible.
Your Reconfirmation Check Will Appear Here
Add your last confirmation date and review your current circumstances to receive a practical next-step summary.
Your Reconfirmation Summary
Key Reconfirmation Facts
Keep these practical points in mind when managing your childcare account.
Explore Childcare Eligibility Support
Use related guides to understand funded hours, childcare accounts and family cost support.
Why Reconfirming Childcare Eligibility Matters
Reconfirmation tells the Childcare Service that the information used for your application is still current. It helps keep your working-parent childcare code or Tax-Free Childcare account active while HMRC continues to assess your circumstances.
A missed deadline can create uncertainty for both your family and your childcare provider. Checking early gives you time to correct account information, respond to requests for evidence and discuss any code issue before a new funded term begins.
- Check the deadline shown in your official childcare account.
- Review work, income, partner and child details before confirming.
- Save the confirmation message or take a secure screenshot for your records.
- Tell your provider promptly if your code status changes.
How To Reconfirm Childcare Eligibility
Parents using Free Childcare for Working Parents or Tax-Free Childcare generally need to sign in to their childcare account every three months and confirm that their details remain accurate. The actual date is shown inside the account, so use the checker above only as a planning reminder.
1. Sign In To Your Childcare Account
Go directly to the official childcare account sign-in service. Avoid relying only on an email link, particularly if a message looks unusual.
2. Check The Reconfirmation Deadline
Your account should show when the next confirmation is due. Reconfirm as soon as the service allows rather than leaving the task until the final day.
3. Review Your Current Circumstances
Check employment, self-employment, expected earnings, partner details, address, National Insurance information, immigration status and your child’s living arrangements. The questions shown can vary according to your account and scheme.
4. Submit The Confirmation
Confirm that the details are correct and provide updates where required. Read each declaration carefully before submitting it.
5. Save The Outcome
Keep the confirmation date and any reference shown. For funded childcare, check that your code remains valid and that your provider has the information needed for its local authority validation process.
What Details Should You Check?
Work And Earnings
Review employment, self-employment, company-director income, planned leave and expected earnings for the relevant period.
Partner Information
Check whether a partner should be included and whether their work or income circumstances have changed.
Child Details
Make sure your child still normally lives with you and that the account information matches current arrangements.
Contact And Status
Update contact details and review any changes to immigration status or permission to access public funds.
Possible Reconfirmation Outcomes
| Account Outcome | What It May Mean | Practical Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility Confirmed | Your account continues and your code should remain valid for the next period. | Save the confirmation and check the next deadline. |
| More Information Needed | HMRC may need evidence or clarification before completing the check. | Respond promptly through the official channel shown. |
| Eligibility Changed | Your circumstances may no longer meet one or more scheme conditions. | Read the decision carefully and ask about any grace period or review process. |
| Deadline Missed | Your code or account may enter a temporary grace period or stop being valid. | Sign in immediately and contact the Childcare Service if needed. |
What Happens If You Miss Reconfirmation?
Do not assume that a missed confirmation automatically means your childcare place ends immediately. Depending on the scheme and timing, a grace period may apply, but you should sign in as soon as possible and check the status shown in your account. Your provider may also need to check your code with the local authority.
If technical problems prevented you from using the service, keep evidence of the problem and contact the Childcare Service. GOV.UK also explains that compensation may be available in some circumstances when families have been unable to use the childcare service because of technical issues.
Reconfirming After A Change In Circumstances
A change does not always mean immediate loss of support. Statutory leave, sick leave, annual leave, starting a new job and some situations where one partner receives a qualifying benefit can still fit within the rules. However, the correct answer depends on your exact circumstances, so report the change accurately and use the official eligibility guidance.
Related Childcare Eligibility Guides
Use these resources to plan your next steps and understand available childcare support.
Childcare Eligibility Calculator UK
Run an initial planning check for working-parent childcare support.
Check Eligibility →30 Hours Free Childcare
Understand hours, age rules, codes and provider arrangements.
Read The Guide →Tax-Free Childcare
Learn how childcare accounts and government top-ups work.
Explore Tax-Free Childcare →Reconfirm Childcare Eligibility FAQs
Common questions about childcare account confirmation and code validity.
Check Your Reconfirmation Before The Deadline
Use the checker, review any changes and then sign in to your official childcare account to complete the confirmation.
Check Your Status