Childcare costings

shayshay

Been out of work for a while, firstly due to caring for my wife and then I fell ill. Since then things have improved to the point where I have managed to secure myself a pretty good job, however the missus is a student nurse so her placements are quite erratic meaning childcare for four children is something we now have to consider which isn't cheap.

Sods law my offer letter came today so checked out tax credits etc however I found the website to be quite poor. A friend mentioned that because I had come off ESA to go back into work that my wage for the first year was irrelevant and that we would receive the full 80% of childcare costs up to a max of £300 however upon looking/searching on their site I could not find this info. Sure it mentions its possible to get 80% of childcare costs covered up to £300 but nothing with regards definitely getting it due to not working in the last year or coming off benefits.

It is as the point that even though I want to go back into work, the childcare costs could make it financially suicide to do so if the above wasn't the case. Anyone have and direct experience of this?

Hoping there is a respite even if for the first year as wife qualifies in June so two wages would cover childcare and then its not an issue.

Mollycat13

In order to qualify for tax credit help with childcare cost, BOTH of you need to be working for a minimum of 16 hours per week each. Is she classed as being in employment by being a student nurse?

I think the childcare element is reducing to max 70% of up to £300 this April (someone correct em if I'm wrong)

Is there some help from your partners college for childcare?

shayshay

Not classed as being employed as a student even though doing 38 hour placement shifts, however she also does 18-24 hours as an agency health care assistant so she works above the threshold.

The university do help but because its halfway through the year there funds allocated to childcare have been spent so next time to get in there is September by which time she will have finished.

Even the 70% would be a help if that was the case.

Mollycat13

I believe the salary they would use to calculate working tax credits and childcare costs will be what you and your wife earnt in the tax year 2009/10. So whatever was on your p60 then.
Did you both work in that year?

They will also as for an estimate of your combined earnings for the year 2001/11 in order to adjust your payment come April to avoid an overpayment.

Indie_Kid

Isn't there no help for child care via the people (don't think it's SFE?) she got her bursary from?

nannytone_2

how old are the kids?
ask your new employer about childcare vouchers and look for breakfast/after school clubs.
my grandson goes every morning and an hour every evening for £18 a week.

shayshay

sh1305 wrote: »

Isn't there no help for child care via the people (don't think it's SFE?) she got her bursary from?

Yep there is but all those allocated funds have been allocated so none available till September when the bursary starts by which time she will be qualified and there wont be so much of a problem.

shayshay

nannytone wrote: »

how old are the kids?
ask your new employer about childcare vouchers and look for breakfast/after school clubs.
my grandson goes every morning and an hour every evening for £18 a week.

Kids are 9.6.5 and 3 so only three qualify for after school clubs which would need to be till 6. That is £450 a month and does not include the youngest who we have a childminder for however she finishes school at 12 so she totals £540 just by herself and then breakfasts clubs are another issue as the after school club are toying with the idea but could only take the eldest three, so youngest would need the child minder.

Bearing in mind there are numerous schools in my area the child provisions around there are pretty poor and the one glimmer of a child minder who could take all 4 who lived next to the school is a no goer as her registration lapsed and will not be complete in time before I start work and the missus starts her placements.

Funny that getting back into work has not been a headache its been the trying to organise childcare thats been the toughie.

Indie_Kid

The 3 year old should be entitled to 15 hours free per week?

shayshay

sh1305 wrote: »

The 3 year old should be entitled to 15 hours free per week?

Really? Any idea where you have seen that?

Have since seen that. The youngest goes into the school nursery in the mornings so she thankfully gets her 15 hours already.