Childcare Tax credits

ajpj_2

Hope someone can help with a tax credit query.

If an employee only works during school term time will tax credits pay childcare costs during the school holidays?

TIA

karenx

1 would have to ask why you are off work for say 6 weeks and still want to put your children into care instead of spending time with them and going places!
But yes they will still pay it if you are still getting paid.

ajpj_2

Don't get paid in holidays does that make a difference? The fees have to paid to hold the place. Child wouldn't be there.

karenx

If you arent getting paid then you would have to notify tax credits of your new wage which would be £0 so your working tax credits could stop I would imagine?
When I lost my job a few years back and my childcare element was stopped I explained the situation to my sons nursery and they held the place for me and I just paid them £20 per week to hold it open. You could speak to the childcare provider and see if they will do something similar for you

nottslass_2

karenx wrote: »

1 would have to ask why you are off work for say 6 weeks and still want to put your children into care instead of spending time with them and going places!
But yes they will still pay it if you are still getting paid.

You still have to pay the nursery/childminder if you want to keep the place - I'm currently on maternity leave & have to still pay full childcare for DS1 for 9 months.

xmaslolly76

Im the same as nottslass im on maternity leave and still have to pay the childminder even if they dont go. As you are still a contracted employee even during school holidays and tax credits are based on your yearly income as long as you are having to pay for the childcare then you should still receive your tax credits. Obviously if you pay less than normal during the holidays you will have to inform them of the reduced rate and they will adjust your award accordingly :-)

metalgal

you have to keep paying to secure a place for your child?so the childminder still gets money without doing anything? that is such a rip off. is that even allowed?

karenx

metalgal wrote: »

you have to keep paying to secure a place for your child?so the childminder still gets money without doing anything? that is such a rip off. is that even allowed?

When my son was in private nursery I took him out for a week to go on holiday so I had to pay for that week still. But when I stopped working for 6 weeks they asked me still to pay but as I had to update tax credits they stopped my working tax credits and also the childcare element. Agreed with nursery to give them £20 per week to keep my sons place as there was other people on the waiting list that could of gotten my place. But it wasnt guaranteed there would be a place again if they gave it to someone else.

nottslass_2

metalgal wrote: »

you have to keep paying to secure a place for your child?so the childminder still gets money without doing anything? that is such a rip off. is that even allowed?

Its standard practise - they are running a buisness. Its obviously up to the parents whether or not they let their childcare place "go".

Childminding is a job,just like any other and at the end of the day most people only go to work to pay the bills.

Its very hard to find good childcare and I wouldn't expect a childminder to retain my sons place without being paid. It

Rince

metalgal wrote: »

you have to keep paying to secure a place for your child?so the childminder still gets money without doing anything? that is such a rip off. is that even allowed?

Welcome to the world of childcare. I can understand why they still charge, but it doesn't help the parents moneywise. When we go on holiday I have to still pay for my 2 childrens nursery fees, hence we hardly go on holiday !