How quickly are tax creds claims for childcare costs processed?

ManicMum

Hello

does anyone know how long it takes to get a claim for childcare costs processed? Can you get it arranged in time to start paying your childcare provider?

thanks:beer:

sinstar

There is no set timescale for a change of circumstances to process, especially with childcare because they may need to contact your childcare provider first to verify the costs and there is no way to guarantee how long they will take to reply etc.

You can call in to add it 7 days before it starts. When you stop paying your costs Tax Credits will continue to pay you for them for 4 weeks so if it takes a while to process leaving you out of pocket to begin with, at least you get a bit extra at the end (not much use in reality, I know)

smiley:_3-2

I put in a change of circumstances 9 weeks ago now have had no money and still waiting just about to recieve my second nursery bill and have no idea how we are going to pay it! Its a nightmare and tax credits dont care you just get the same script read out! Its a nightmare I wont have childcare costs to worry about soon as will have to take children out! Hope yours gets sorted asap!

sinstar

You assume they don't care but really if there is no timescale and the helpline advisors don't actually have a clue when it will be processed, what do you want them to say? Do you want them to give you a timescale they've made up just so you have some sort of answer?

"When will this process?"

"There is no timescale, I don't know when it will be processed"

"But how long? You're just sticking to your script! I want to know how long."

"Oh okay it will process within 2 weeks"

You phone back 2 weeks later, it's not processed, you've wasted money calling up to complain about a timescale that was made up in the first place, just because some advisors find it easier to say what you want to hear to get you off the phone (because there are thousands of other people waiting to get through and the more you insist on a timescale when you've already been told THERE IS NO TIMESCALE the longer these other people are waiting in the queue)

smiley:_3-2

I understand that the advisors dont know but is very frustrating when you are waiting and rely on the money! I think the whole system needs looking at and timescales SHOULD be in place! And emergency payments should also be in place

AsknAnswer2

Who do you suppose would be able to process emergency payments when there currently aren't enough staff to process normal applications and changes of circs within a reasonable timescale? The system needs looking at but so do people's expectations. Public sector staff are being cut down even further, it's only going to get worse.

aaroncaz

smiley: wrote: »

I understand that the advisors dont know but is very frustrating when you are waiting and rely on the money! I think the whole system needs looking at and timescales SHOULD be in place! And emergency payments should also be in place

I have found it to be sorted out very quick(this year) within 2 weeks. but back in 2003, I ended up owing 100s to my childminder, went along to tax office and they issued me with an emergency payment. A cheque. May be worth asking about?

sammie383

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System

TCO are checking all high cost claims which include such things as childcare costs and disability before updating claims to ensure no fraud is taking place. Unfortunately there aren't enough staff to process it as quick as claimants would like.
Also the pace of processing is determined by the length of time it takes childcare providers and benefits offices to confirm or deny the details claimants provide.

smiley:_3-2

In reply to asknanswer2 I just find it wrong that honest people are being penalised for something others do wrong! I understand it must be very frustrating for people that work on the helpdesk and I am never rude to them I know they are only doing their job maybe saying emergency payments was a wrong thing to suggest but I think that untill proven wrong they should continue to make payments so we can still pay childcare and if people are being dishonest then shame on them and they will have to deal with the consequences and repay the money! At the end of the day us who are working are doing exactly what the government wants and we rely on tax credits to help pay childcare to enable us to work!

AsknAnswer2

My response was nothing to do with being penalised, I didn't say you were rude to any staff nor did I say anything about people claiming fraudulently. My response was how do you expect the processing of an emergency payment where there aren't enough staff to process normal claims and change of circs.

But since you brought it up.....Nobody is penalising anybody. All claims have to be verified and this takes time. When there are high cost claims, this takes longer and I'm glad they do so. Part of checking fraud is checking claims from the outset, not waiting until it's committed and the money cannot always be recouped and when it can be it isn't recouped overnight. It can take decades for an overpayment to be recovered. Until they are satisfied that the claimant is entitled, they are under no obligation to make any award. I'm not happy about the waiting times either and I certainly wasn't happy when I was in your situation and had to wait 3 months for a new award, but there isn't anything that we can do about it. They can only work with the resource that they have.

We get this money because we are fortunate enough to live in a Welfare state, but if claims are allowed to be paid prior to determining entitlement we would not be in a Welfare state for much longer because literally anyone could claim and receive high costs for nothing, and there would be no money left in the pot.

All I can suggest is asking them what, if any, information they are waiting for in order to make a decision. It may just be something that you can help them with to speed up the process.