maternity leave 'keeping in touch days' will I get help with childcare?

[Deleted User]

Keeping in touch days can be essential yes. It ensures you dont fall out of the loop when on maternity leave. Lots can happen in the workplace in time that you are off. It can also be used for training days again to keep you up to date with new happenings. And of course the obvious boost to income when trying to bring up a baby on SMP or nothing if you dont qualify can be a major factor.

lolly_896

Hi there,

There is a calculator https://www.entitledto.co.uk So if you were to go on there and put it the figures as if your child is in childcare and without it, you could look at the figures to see if it's worth your while.

Good Luck

liam8282

_shel wrote: »

Keeping in touch days can be essential yes. It ensures you dont fall out of the loop when on maternity leave. Lots can happen in the workplace in time that you are off. It can also be used for training days again to keep you up to date with new happenings. And of course the obvious boost to income when trying to bring up a baby on SMP or nothing if you dont qualify can be a major factor.

They can also be a waste of time, which is why I made the comment to the OP.

If the baby is 11 weeks old and they are only just considering "keep in touch days", that could be about 3 months they have already been away from work with no contact. Doesn't appear to be that essential to me.

For example, someone who works as a receptionist could probably keep up to date with everything by simply "popping in" for half an hour or calling work every so often.

I suppose it also depends on what type of job they do and the circumstances you mention, such as wanting to boost the income.

I think it is for the OP to weigh up the positives vs the negatives.

louloulouisa

Thanks everyone :beer:

Thanks Liam I would like to work the "keeping in touch days" to earn extra pennies!

Thanks lolly, I tried to use the calculator, but it wouldn't allow me to add the childcare costs as it said 'you and your partner have to both work over 16 hours'

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply

Lou x

nottslass_2

louloulouisa wrote: »

Thanks everyone :beer:

Thanks Liam I would like to work the "keeping in touch days" to earn extra pennies!

Thanks lolly, I tried to use the calculator, but it wouldn't allow me to add the childcare costs as it said 'you and your partner have to both work over 16 hours'

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply

Lou x

But you are classed as working over 16 hours ! Just put in the hours that you worked before having your baby.
Even though you aren't actually physically going out to work at the moment it doesn't matter - your employment status is the same as before you went on maternity leave.

Hope this makes sense.

DaisyFlower

As far as I am aware, if you used childcare prior to being on maternity leave you can continue to claim through OML but not AML.

I dont believe you can claim the childcare part of tax credits when on maternity leave if you didnt use them prior to this.

louloulouisa

Thanks Nottslass I have worked it out

Thanks Daisyflower what's OML/AML sorry!

DaisyFlower

louloulouisa wrote: »

Thanks Nottslass I have worked it out

Thanks Daisyflower what's OML/AML sorry!

OML - ordinary maternity leave - first 39 weeks
AML - additional maternity leave - 39-52 weeks

JenniMc

Ordinary Mat Leave is the first 26 weeks and Additional Mat Leave is the second 26 weeks. I don't think you can get anything towards childcare costs during the final 13 weeks of the Additional Mat Leave.

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

louloulouisa

Thanks everyone

well I have worked it all out, spent ages working out 90% of this and x amount of that! and to cut a long story short I will be £43 a week better off doing 'Keeping in touch days' So I am going to do it

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply :beer:
Lou x