Getting Childcare Tax Credits without needing them

tincat

Hi all,

Over the summer holiday I had to pay for childcare for my kids to a registered provider. The provider cost £160 per week and I got the requisite amount (don't know exactly the figure as all bundled in with WTC & CTC) from tax credits.

Today I phoned the tax credits people to tell them I don't need the childcare anymore as the kids have gone back to school as of today, and they told me I will continue to get the extra amount until 28th of this month. I asked if that wouldn't be an overpayment? Apparently not.

I asked a couple of times about whether I would have to pay the money back when they worked it all out, and again the answer was no. I came right out and asked if it would be like a bonus to me. Answer was yes.

Apparently it is to help people who have to pay a monthly fee for childcare. However, I will be getting about 3 extra weeks of this payment.

Can anyone tell me if this is right? Will I get a big shock demand later down the line?

GlasweJen

it's called the run on period, i've had this before when i moved jobs and it's perfectly alright, the money is yours to spend.

tincat

Wow this is fantastic.:T

Thanks (will pay down my credit card a bit more this month):rotfl:

Hopefully no one will burst my bubble further down the line.....

[Deleted User]

There is a 4 week run on of childcare costs when they cease, you also get a 4 week run on of the higher amount if the costs decrease.

Lord_Dante

It's designed to keep child places open in case you find a work but also secretly because no one was stopping their claims when claiming benefits after leaving work and too many were being rejected and having to be done again

SABJ

when i stopped using childcare i rang them and they stopped it right away i didnt get any extra weeks but that was about 18mths ago and it changes all the time i would write down the date and time u called them and if anything does come back to you you can give them this info so they can trace the call hopefully it wont come to that tho
sarah

frames1_uk

I thought they just worked it out as a percentage of 52 weeks