Unsure re correct TCs amount- please help

AngelOfTheNorth

I'm pregnant at the moment, and am likely to be a stay at home mum for various family reasons, at least initially (care of other family members too, although I won't be getting any payment or benefits for that). Trying to work out what TCs my husband and I would get before finalising arrangements. But I get different results from different checkers. Husband earns £19,500 a year. I have looked at a few different online calculators, and got different results.

I tried first of all the HMRC calculator. This said we'd get about £204 a month. I then tried the 'entitledto' calculator which said £200, but that's fine, that's about the same.

But I have also tried something called 'quickcalc' which is a subscription only forum for welfare benefits advisors (my friend works in a CAB and uses this). This said we'd only get about £134 a month. I really don't know which calculation is correct.

Can anyone assist? I don't especially want to ask at a CAB because I know several people who work at the local one and my pregnancy isn't yet public knowledge. But I really need to know asap to make plans. The extra £70 a month would make quite a big difference.

Caz3121

Tax credits are based on the income for the tax year. If you are currently working and make a claim in Sept (for example) they would initially base it on the household income for 2010/2011 which may include both your incomes. You can then have it based on an estimate of this years income however if you start this part through a year you will have earnings too...so partners earning for full year + your earnings for the part of the year you worked.
The £200ish sounds right if partners income is the only income for the full tax year but if you have earnings during the year too then that will reduce the payment
..hope that makes sense

AngelOfTheNorth

Yeah it does. Thanks Caz. I know it's done on the household income for the last tax year, but was under the impression you then let them know if your income is much higher/lower. I've not worked much this tax year and am unlikely to do so, so I'm really looking at what we'd be getting when baby is born, according to current rates (which I know may change next tax year, just trying to get an idea). So you think £130 a month is lower than you'd expect, then? I don't know much about this as I've never claimed anything before.

AngelOfTheNorth

Bump, wondering if anyone else has any perspectives?