Tax credits - pay for childcare?

[Deleted User]

My brother split from his partner a year or so ago. They had 4 kids, two of them his, two of them partner As from a previous relationship. Hes now got a new partner (B) who he lives with in rented accomodation along with her son. His children live with partner A.

Brother is a welder and has been out of work for a month or so and struggling for money. However, he started a new job this week.

Unfortunately, due to intervention by Social Services (dont ask its a long story !), his two children are now living with him. Might be temporary or permanent.

He earns £200 a week after tax so not a huge amount. One child is 4 and not long started school, but the other one is pre-school age.

Hes really concerned because he cant see how hes going to look after the kids (his partner also works but doesnt earn a great deal).

In this situation, if he had to pay for a childminder, obviously, theres no way he could fund it himself. How much would he get from tax credits?

Also, how long would it take for this to be sorted out? Hes got no money at all now and the childrens situation of livibng with him changed very suddenly....

AsknAnswer

No-one can give a figure without knowing extremely intimate details about his and his new partner's income, and an idea of the childcare costs he would be expected to pay for a childminder/nursery/after school club. I would never advise someone to post that sort of details on a forum.

What he can do, to get an idea is visit this website: entitledto.com

Enter his details and it will give him an idea of what he may qualify for, however it is only a guide. The only people who can give him an actual assessment and a definate figure are tax credits themselves. I know that the maximum childcare costs they will pay for two or more children is capped at £300 per week. Tax credits will calculate the assessment based on both his and his new partners income, and based on all children who live in the household and requier childcare. He may also be entitled to more child tax credit and working tax credit, as well as child support from their mother.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello paulfoel,

You brother needs to put in an application for child benefit.
This will total £33.20 for both children per week.

I would suggest that he phones the child benefit helpline on 0845 302 1444 and ask for the procedure, as he now has care. It may be that the mother will need to sign the benefit to your brother.

Child tax credits can only be back dated for a short period, I think it's 93 days, so the sooner a claim is made the better.

He should also speak to his county council, and ask for advice about child care options for the under 5's. There are more options that just private day nurseries.
Have a look at Sure Start. http://www.surestart.gov.uk
Also for childminders http://www.ncma.org.uk

Regards
Munchie

[Deleted User]

AsknAnswer wrote: »

No-one can give a figure without knowing extremely intimate details about his and his new partner's income, and an idea of the childcare costs he would be expected to pay for a childminder/nursery/after school club. I would never advise someone to post that sort of details on a forum.

What he can do, to get an idea is visit this website: entitledto.com

Enter his details and it will give him an idea of what he may qualify for, however it is only a guide. The only people who can give him an actual assessment and a definate figure are tax credits themselves. I know that the maximum childcare costs they will pay for two or more children is capped at £300 per week. Tax credits will calculate the assessment based on both his and his new partners income, and based on all children who live in the household and requier childcare. He may also be entitled to more child tax credit and working tax credit, as well as child support from their mother.

Thanks. Been to that website and did a rough calculation and it looks like he might be OK.

Based on childcare costs of £200 a week, looks like he could get about £166 + child benefit so it sort of would pay for it. He'll be happy about that. I guess his ex-partner is still getting the child ben at the moment though.

Seems a bit unfair that his partners income is also taken into consideration. After all, shes got her own child to provide for.

Trouble is I guess it takes some time to come through? Hes got NO money at the moment to pay for childcare.

AsknAnswer

They will need to make a joint claim as they are living together and to all intents and purposes living as a couple, that is why both incomes are taken into account. His partner's little one will be included in the calculation, and provided for also as a family unit.

He can only make a single claim if he is not living as part of a couple. I'm a single person and work full time and therefore claim tax credits as a lone parent, but if my boyfriend moved in then he would be expected to provide for my children and my claim would be adjusted to reflect his income. If I didn't tell them about it I would soon get found out. Tax credits compliance randomly check claims and I have been checked on more than one occasion, with the information they ask for in the checks, and the people they contact it would be difficult not to get found out. Single people do seem to get checked more frequently to counteract fraud.

FIASCO_2

If he is looking to get money for child care from child tax credits then it has to be a registered childminder or nursery....the evidence has to be provided.

He should register for child tax credits now.....and ask to be backdated either to the date the children arrived with him. (Max backdating is 93 days - you must ask to be backdated, this is not automatic).

[Deleted User]

FIASCO wrote: »

If he is looking to get money for child care from child tax credits then it has to be a registered childminder or nursery....the evidence has to be provided.

He should register for child tax credits now.....and ask to be backdated either to the date the children arrived with him. (Max backdating is 93 days - you must ask to be backdated, this is not automatic).

OK. Thanks. I'll let him know.

kelloggs36

Does the ex work? If so, it may be worth claiming child support from her.

[Deleted User]

kelloggs36 wrote: »

Does the ex work? If so, it may be worth claiming child support from her.

Yeh. Part-time. But getting the money might be easier said than done. Also, I assume the child benefit is currently still going to her.

thorsoak

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/1705245]Unfortunately, due to intervention by Social Services (dont ask its a long story !), his two children are now living with him. Might be temporary or permanent.

....[/QUOTE]

Might be worth contacting Social Services to see if they can support him with childcare placements - and also put him in touch with other agencies.

sinstar

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/children/childcare-costs.htm