Do I have to claim tax credits

jlo211

I'm new here so take it easy on me!!
I have recently had a letter fm the tax credits explaining that they have looked into my childcare costs and decided that I have been overclaiming. I was asked to complete a form and return it which I did. I use two chilcare providers, a childminder during school holidays and a registered after school club during term time. I have not changed either of these in 3 and a half years and the tax credits have all the correct details. They are saying they have never received the form back and have reduced my claim to virtually nothing as they are only counting the holiday childcare. They will not amend my claim and as a result I am out of pocket. I want to close my claim and claim Housing benefit and council tax benefit instead as this is easier for the lay person to understand. Will I be able to do this or will the council question why I am not claiming tax credits? Please help, I am broke!!

karenx

You can claim both at the same time. Yes you can cancel your tax credits claim, if you owe money you will still have to pay it though. Nobody will question why your not claiming tax credits. If you are broke then how will you afford all that childcare?

G51shopaholic

use the Tax Credit appeal process.

They HAVE to take all your childcare costs into account.

Get both of your childcare providers to provide "statements" of accounts proving what you paid them and how long you've used them for.

You may find trouble with the other benefits because you are not claiming everything your entitled to inorder to get other benefits.

karenx

No, tax credits dont HAVE to take all costs into account. There is a limit on the amount you can claim. Otherwise peoeple would take the !!!! and just put their children into the most expensive childcare provider they can find for the full week and expect the tax payer to foot the bill for it! There has to be limits somewhere. For the OP if its just 1 child the maximum they would be paid is £140 per week based on childcare costs of £175. If their bill per week is more then they have to pay it themselves

Childcare element (up to 80% of the maximum):Maximum weekly amount from 6 April 2010Maximum weekly eligible cost for one child£175.00 (maximum payable £140.00)Maximum weekly eligible cost for two or more children£300.00 (maximum payable £240.00)

lovetowinacar

karenx wrote: »

No, tax credits dont HAVE to take all costs into account. There is a limit on the amount you can claim. Otherwise peoeple would take the !!!! and just put their children into the most expensive childcare provider they can find for the full week and expect the tax payer to foot the bill for it! There has to be limits somewhere. For the OP if its just 1 child the maximum they would be paid is £140 per week based on childcare costs of £175. If their bill per week is more then they have to pay it themselves

Childcare element (up to 80% of the maximum):Maximum weekly amount from 6 April 2010Maximum weekly eligible cost for one child£175.00 (maximum payable £140.00)Maximum weekly eligible cost for two or more children£300.00 (maximum payable £240.00)

Funny enough Karen there was a lady on here a couple of weeks ago complaining that even though she had chosen a really expensive childcare provider that she could not possibly afford to even pay a few hours a week for she expected the rest of us to cover all of it...lol :rotfl: the rest of us shop around and really try to save money but this particular lady thought we should all pay for her expensive choice (the highest in the area) - perhaps when she sends them to Eton she will expect us to pay for that as well:rotfl::rotfl:

jlo211

Thanks Guys, my childminder actually gave me her notice just after the easter holidays and I think it is due to the tax credits ringing her. Apparently they kept her on the phone for half an hour and were asking all sorts of questions so i think she added 2 and 2 and got 5 and decided it wasnt worth her while anymore. So now my ex partner is looking at collecting my child from school and asking his parents if they will help out during holidays until we sort something. I have been on a calculator website and worked out that i would be entitled to full council tax and housing benefit if i am not claiming tax credits. I just wanted to know if they would question me is all - i've had my fill of questions about my life i'm afraid and i cant be bothered to deal with them anymore. I did not lie to them about what my costs were and i did not choose an expensive childcare provider to try to get more money. They are just incapable of processing things properly and then try to scare people into paying money back. I wish I earnt enough not to claim any benefits but unfortunately the UK is f*****d and almost everyone needs to claim!