1st Baby- totally confused

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

both could claim the tenner a week family element but choose noit to as the fuss involved in claiming isn't worth it.
i wish a few more people felt the same!

It's worth pointing out this £10 family element was bought in to replace the "Married Mans" Tax Code. I bet you didn't get many high earners ringing the Tax Office asking to be on a normal code and pay more Tax??

OP I can't really add much to what has already been said but do put in for Child Tax Credits.Couples earning up to 50k could claim help towards childcare costs but this is reducing from April 2011 so may not apply by the time your partner returns to work http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/taxcredits.htm

ajaney

We get £20.30 per week child benefit which is currently payable to all regardless of income - shortly to change.

We get standard child tax credit of approx £10.50 per week (£545 a year) plus we are getting the same again for the 'Baby' element (child under 1 year old). The baby element finishes at the end of March for everyone, regardless of baby age.

No help with childcare available on that income as the childcare element is attached to working tax credit as far as I know. Your employer may have a tax free scheme.

Rules are changing in April this year & again next year.

Hope this helps

scootw1

Robbie_Macca wrote: »

£100 electric and gas,
£80 car insurance - for two cars
£45 water, live in SW.
£30 Home and contents insurance
£35 BT
£50 2 x mobile phones
£35 life insurance
£10 tv licence
So £385, plus another 30 for dentist which we pay as we cant get an nhs dentist where we live.

When your mobile contracts end you should definitely look into getting lower contracts as £50 is a LOT for two mobiles and considering you have BT as well. Do you need landline and mobile as well? Might make a saving there.

Robbie_Macca

scootw1 wrote: »

When your mobile contracts end you should definitely look into getting lower contracts as £50 is a LOT for two mobiles and considering you have BT as well. Do you need landline and mobile as well? Might make a saving there.

We would love to lose the landline, however living in rural Devon, it's the only way we are able to get access to broadband.

welshmoneylover

Robbie_Macca wrote: »

We would love to lose the landline, however living in rural Devon, it's the only way we are able to get access to broadband.

Why the heck are you justifying what you spend your hard earned money on? It's no-one else's business really.;)

Indie_Kid

Robbie_Macca wrote: »

We would love to lose the landline, however living in rural Devon, it's the only way we are able to get access to broadband.

Can you not get anything cheaper? Or use mobile broadband?

BBBNH

i have lurked on the forum for a while and have posted recently with a problem, luckily for me everybody has been great and really helped me out.

this poor guy is being shot down in flames for asking a perfectly reasonable question! as a long time lurker i've never seen this before, i always thought this was a really supportive place.

OP, ring the tax credits, fully explain the situation and they will tell you were you stand. they have always been really helpful with me.

it's a shame, it seems it's always the middle earners are hardest hit. i hope you manage to get things sorted.

worriedfirsttimebuyer

OP - we are on the same joint income as you and finding it a real struggle. I've just returned to work (part time) after a year's mat leave, and we use a nursery 2 days a week. We receive £20.30 child benefit a week and £10 family element of child tax credit. I claim it because I am entitled to. We have paid a lot of tax in the 10 years we've both been in full time work. Every single penny helps keep a roof over our heads at the moment.

apoorlykitten

oh dear what a shame some people cannot give useful advise.
all i can say is apply for everything as you never know you just may be surprised what your are entitled too. i would doubt very much that you would get working tax credit but you certainly could be elligable for ctc and the childcare element of ctc. that and child benefit would help out no doubt.
just goes to show that babies are expensive! i should know i have 3. but would we choose to live a life without children just so we can save a few bucks every month ? no ! so if you can get a little bit of help so you can enjoy bringing up your child then you bloody well deserve it mate! you infact over many as you have worked and studied to better yourself and in turn the life of your child. would love to hear if you do qualify. good luck to you and your family

Indie_Kid

apoorlykitten wrote: »

i would doubt very much that you would get working tax credit but you certainly could be elligable for ctc and the childcare element of ctc. that and child benefit would help out no doubt.

No entitlement to wtc, ctc from April or child care costs.

just goes to show that babies are expensive!

They can be as expensive as you want them to be.