Part Time Student Tax Credits

Hermit90

Hi

I work full time (45 hours / week) and my wife currently works part time (19 hours / week). We have 3 children and currently receive tax credits and help towards the costs of childcare.

My wife is about to begin a part time degree course where she will be studying 2 full days a week and working 12 hours.

This will mean extra childcare costs whilst she is studying but I just wondered if dropping to 12 hours a week will have a negative effect on our entitlement to tax credits.

Thanks in advance.

Auzelia

You would no longer be entitled to help towards childcare costs from tax credits.

Hermit90

OK, that's not good, don't know how we will be paying £800 per month in childcare costs then.

Does it make any difference at all that it is an NHS funded course and that she will still be getting paid the same salary as if she was working 19 hours?

Thanks.

Auzelia

She may be entitled to childcare help from the University / college.
I dont think it matters that its an NHS funded course, but maybe someone else on here can give a definitive answer.

Good luck.

Gemmzie

If she can work 16 hours then I think you'd be entitled to the childcare element again.

Hermit90

Thanks for the replys.

If we manage to increase her working hours to 16 hours a week can we claim for childcare costs for the 2 days that she will be at University or just while she is at work?

Thanks.

Hermit90

Hi

Please, does anyobdy know if both myself and my wife are working over 16 hours a week and my wife is at Uni 2 days a week, can we claim the childcare elment of working tax credit for the days that she is at Uni.

We have spent the last 2/3 days trying to get information from different sources and nobody seems to be able to answer our questions / concerns. The only responses that we are getting is to advise of the changes when they happen and then we will be advised what we are entitled to, but if don't know what we're going to be entitled to before the course starts (1 week today) then she may have to withdraw from the course.

Thanks very much in advance.

Oldernotwiser

Has your wife contacted the Student Services section at her university? They are often much better informed on the subject of students and benefits than the DWP/Jobcentre.

Auzelia

as long as your wifes 16 hours is in paid employment and not work that is part of her course then you would be entitled to the childcare element depending on your income.

Are the 12 hours she will be working part of her course, or is that just a reduction from her normal 19 hours?

Hermit90

Hi

Those are the hours she will work.

She was trying to pick up another 4 hours to get her to 16 hours per week.

However, she has just been advised by the family support at her work and then by a HMRC adviser that her hours won't be deemed to have changed for tax credit purposes because her P60 will still state that she is doing 20 hours a week.

Does this sound correct?