PLA & Childcare Grant....Help

Nicky321

A 19 yr old father of a 1 yr old has just started his 2nd year at uni. At first when the baby was born, the mother received Child benefit, but the father put in a claim and was awarded it. From this he received the parents learning allowance from SFE. After a few months the CB stopped but this was after he had applied for the 2nd year of Student finance and applied for the PLA. He has been awarded the PLA for this 2nd year and also received a Childcare grant form. The problem is on the form it states "You should not fill in this form if you have a husband, wife or partner who claims the childcare part of the working tax credits." He has none of these but the mother of his child receives 12 hours per week free childcare (we think through WTC). ATM the child benefit is in dispute and an outcome is awaited, but does anyone know if he can claim the Childcare grant? he has his daughter 50/50 shared care with the mother on a 4 day rolling rota, and is in uni 5 days per week, so he needs childcare for when it is his turn to have his daughter.

Hoping someone can help.
Cheers x

Morgan_Ree

This 12 hours free childcare per week. Are you sure you're not confusing that with the free childcare every 3 year gets?
It's called Free Early Learning. Nothing to do with the childcare element of wTC

I think you need to double check this before doing anything else.

Nicky321

Morgan_Ree wrote: »

This 12 hours free childcare per week. Are you sure you're not confusing that with the free childcare every 3 year gets?
QUOTE]

Definately not, the child is only 1 year

Morgan_Ree

LOL oh god yeah!
Mt trip to Specsavers is well overdue

divastrop

Is the mother working in paid employment? If not,could the free childcare possibly be through sure start/action for children or some such organisation?
I'm sorry but I don't understand the rest, were they both getting CB for the same child?

Nicky321

divastrop wrote: »

Is the mother working in paid employment? If not,could the free childcare possibly be through sure start/action for children or some such organisation?
I'm sorry but I don't understand the rest, were they both getting CB for the same child?

The mother works 16 hours a week, they both got CB for the same child, but not at the same time, eg mother got it, then mothers stopped and father got it, then obviously mother disputed it and no one is getting it at the moment.

rapunzelz86

I dont think its going to matter. They would only be concerned if he or a partner in his household were recieving the chilcare element of wtc as it would be benefiting him and his finances.
The fact that the mother gets it is only relevant to her finances for when she has care of him.
He should continue to make the claim for the childcare grant because he is not recieving help for childcare from wtc.

Nicky321

Thankyou for all the help and advice will let you know how he gets on

Taiko

I disagree.

In my view, he's not eligible for childcare grant. If the ex-partner is claiming child benefit and tax credits, then the child is not dependent on the student, and therefore isn't entitled to dependent's grants, which is what PLA/CCG is.

rapunzelz86

Taiko wrote: »

I disagree.

In my view, he's not eligible for childcare grant. If the ex-partner is claiming child benefit and tax credits, then the child is not dependent on the student, and therefore isn't entitled to dependent's grants, which is what PLA/CCG is.

The OP did state that neither parent is currently recieveing the child benefit, and that they have shared care, so how is the child not dependant on the father? Of course they are.

divastrop

I thought that you had to be getting CB in order to get tax credits?