Childcare Tax Credit, Is there a minimum amount you can claim?

huffyharry

Been looking at nurseries, if/when i go back to work it will be part time at first. Fees will only be 12.50 per week for first 4 weeks then 120 per week. Can i claim for the 12.50?

karenx

Depending on your income its only upto80% they will pay. So if you get the full rate it will only be 80% of £12.50

huffyharry

thankr karenx, i think i should get near enough 80%.

mitchaa

huffyharry wrote: »

Been looking at nurseries, if/when i go back to work it will be part time at first. Fees will only be 12.50 per week for first 4 weeks then 120 per week. Can i claim for the 12.50?

You have to work out the weekly figures,

If your child is in for 4 wks at £12.50 and 46 wks at £120, then you would tell them a figure of £5570 / 52 = £107pw

Depends on the nursery, my little lads nursery is for 50wks, it closes 2wks over xmas and new year, some are 48/49wks, and ive even heard some are the full 52wks but not quite sure how that works as I wouldn't have thought a nursery to be open xmas and new year.

Emmamumof2

Ours is worked out over 52 weeks, they still charge for xmas and NY even though they arent open! Work that one out!

Indie_Kid

mitchaa wrote: »

Depends on the nursery, my little lads nursery is for 50wks, it closes 2wks over xmas and new year, some are 48/49wks, and ive even heard some are the full 52wks but not quite sure how that works as I wouldn't have thought a nursery to be open xmas and new year.

I've never heard of this. I think they might just be shut for Xmas eve and a few days after? Same with new year.

mitchaa

Emmamumof2 wrote: »

Ours is worked out over 52 weeks, they still charge for xmas and NY even though they arent open! Work that one out!

Surely illegal?

How can they possibly charge for days when the nursery is not open? I would refuse point blank.

sorryitsme

Mine charge me when they close for training (insect day). When I asked why they said that we still have to pay as it is traing they require which will benefit our children. In the meantime I have to find and pay alternative childcare on that day. Also when they had an outbreak of slapped cheek the nursery was closed for 2 days and we still had to pay!:eek:

mitchaa

sorryitsme wrote: »

Mine charge me when they close for training (insect day). When I asked why they said that we still have to pay as it is traing they require which will benefit our children. In the meantime I have to find and pay alternative childcare on that day. Also when they had an outbreak of slapped cheek the nursery was closed for 2 days and we still had to pay!:eek:

I would have kicked up a fuss and sought legal advice as surely this cannot be legal. They are not providing you the service you are paying for.

It's okay I suppose if you get childcare paid for you in the form of tax credits, but if you have to pay for childcare yourself out of your own pocket then it's harder to swallow.

I'm charged 50wks of the year, 2wks off over the xmas period

AsknAnswer2

It's usually stipulated within the contract when they will and won't charge. You sign the contract, you agree to the terms and conditions. I strongly disagree with it and won't sign a contract which stipulates I should pay for a service that is unavailable.

If you haven't signed a contract to this effect then it would get thrown out if the nursery tried to take you to court for the money. But if you signed a contract to the effect that you would pay for this type of situation then refused to do so, court action would likely award costs to the nursery payable by you.

They usually have pre prepared contracts with this clause stipulated in it. Check before you sign, because it's not illegal if you agree to it in contract. They are regulated only for the purposes of child safety, how they run their business in respect of contracts and fees is up to them and is not regulated by an authoritive body. If all parents refused to sign a contract which stipulated full fee on a day of closed service then they would be forced to change it, as eventually they would have no business but as it stands, too many people sign the contract without reading it which means they have no recourse.