Two Tax Credits questions!!

lilmisschick

Firstly, I am going through my renewal and it says at the end to deduct £300 from our total?? This is the first time I have ever actually read the attached forms so consequently have never done this before either!!! Is this a new thing or am I being dim? LOL. I cant find anything on it either- related threads etc

Secondly, I am currently on Maternity Allowance until Nov and I am entitled to remain off work unpaid from Nov-Feb 2011 still on maternity. I intend to do this as I am starting a degree in Feb (my employers know) but I dont want to officially hand in my notice until Jan 2011 'just in case' circumstances change and I cannot start my course, I don't want to be jobless! So the question is- I am entitled to still get childcare paid for whilst claiming MA as I am classed as working, but I don't need it so therefore don't claim it BUT as my course is full time from Feb, I wanted to wean my daughter into the nursery gradually before that but does anyone know if I would be entitled to some help with childcare between nov-feb as this would be when I want to start. My DH works full time earning 14k per year,

I hope that makes sense?

ETA- I will be claiming childcare costs from NHS nursary from feb, not WTC!

Thanks

clairec79

I seem to remember you could claim child care for older children when on maternity leave (to keep their place) but not for the baby - not sure if your daughter is the reason you are on maternity leave or if there is a baby as well

alwaysonthego_2

To get the childcare element of WTC, both you and your husband have to work 16 hours each and obviously you can not claim it through both TC and NHS bursaries, hth.

Deepmistrust

lilmisschick wrote: »

Firstly, I am going through my renewal and it says at the end to deduct £300 from our total?? This is the first time I have ever actually read the attached forms so consequently have never done this before either!!! Is this a new thing or am I being dim? LOL. I cant find anything on it either- related threads etc

Secondly, I am currently on Maternity Allowance until Nov and I am entitled to remain off work unpaid from Nov-Feb 2011 still on maternity. I intend to do this as I am starting a degree in Feb (my employers know) but I dont want to officially hand in my notice until Jan 2011 'just in case' circumstances change and I cannot start my course, I don't want to be jobless! So the question is- I am entitled to still get childcare paid for whilst claiming MA as I am classed as working, but I don't need it so therefore don't claim it BUT as my course is full time from Feb, I wanted to wean my daughter into the nursery gradually before that but does anyone know if I would be entitled to some help with childcare between nov-feb as this would be when I want to start. My DH works full time earning 14k per year,

I hope that makes sense?

ETA- I will be claiming childcare costs from NHS nursary from feb, not WTC!

Thanks

You should still be able to claim childcare whilst on maternity for existing children. Many parents don't want to disrupt their older children (or risk losing their place) when on maternity. In fact, many parents have to actually pay to keep their siblings place or reserve their newborns place anyway, so as long as it is while you are on maternity, then you are able to qualify (assuming you were otherwise eligible before going onto maternity) for childcare.

(this is for the first 39 weeks of your maternity leave, beyond that you aren't entitled).

lilmisschick

Many thanks for replies. I am aware of not being able to claim from both but just needed to know for the 3 month window. Yes we have two older children but I canceled their childcare as I felt it was unnecessary getting them collected from school when I can now do it?!

So can I not claim for the baby then? I just wanted an afternoon or two per week from Nov to wean her into starting full time when she is 1 and I start my course.

Also- Does anyone know the answer to my first question?

Deepmistrust

lilmisschick wrote: »

Many thanks for replies. I am aware of not being able to claim from both but just needed to know for the 3 month window. Yes we have two older children but I canceled their childcare as I felt it was unnecessary getting them collected from school when I can now do it?!

So can I not claim for the baby then? I just wanted an afternoon or two per week from Nov to wean her into starting full time when she is 1 and I start my course.

Also- Does anyone know the answer to my first question?

Sorry, my post wasn't that clear. As long as you are on MA for the first 39 weeks, you are considered as 'employed' (as long as you were eligible etc before your maternity leave started, then you can claim your childcare costs for both children).

lilmisschick

Deepmistrust wrote: »

Sorry, my post wasn't that clear. As long as you are on MA for the first 39 weeks, you are considered as 'employed' (as long as you were eligible etc before your maternity leave started, then you can claim your childcare costs for both children).

Thank you! I understand that part (during the 39 weeks) but it will be between weeks 40-52 of the years maternity leave that I want to use childcare even though I won't be receiving anymore MA as it obviously only runs for 39 weeks!

Valli

Is the £300 not the amount you are allowed to disregard eg building society account interest etc...so you only declare additional income OVER that amount IIRC

Try reading the notes for each section as you fill in

*wanders off to see if still has notes*

yup the £300 is other income. Less than that ignore, more than that deduct £300 and declare any amount over

Link here

DaisyFlower

lilmisschick wrote: »

Thank you! I understand that part (during the 39 weeks) but it will be between weeks 40-52 of the years maternity leave that I want to use childcare even though I won't be receiving anymore MA as it obviously only runs for 39 weeks!

You cant claim the childcare element during AML, only for existing children for the first 39 weeks.

lilmisschick

Valli wrote: »

Is the £300 not the amount you are allowed to disregard eg building society account interest etc...so you only declare additional income OVER that amount IIRC

Try reading the notes for each section as you fill in

*wanders off to see if still has notes*

yup the £300 is other income. Less than that ignore, more than that deduct £300 and declare any amount over

Link here

Why when I have you to do it for me!! Thanks for that though, I don't particularly go through it as such as we don't have extra incomes/ mileage/ expenses etc.. so just p60's only!! Thought it was too good to be true to just deduct £300, lol.

lilmisschick

DaisyFlower wrote: »

You cant claim the childcare element during AML, only for existing children for the first 39 weeks.

Brill, that's what I needed to know, even though its not what I wanted to hear!! Thanks