Childcare Costs - don't qualify?

ManicMum

Hello

I have been offered a job but it is a casual contract but hoping to get 16 hours so I can get help towards childcare. I have 3 children but will only need childcare for 1 of them.

Our income for 2010-11 was around £26500k. The calculator said we are entitled to no help with childcare. I thought we would have got something. My friend has 3 children and is on nearly £50k and gets help so this doesn't seem right.

Our income for 2011-12 will be lower - probably about £24/25k.

Also, if you only got 10 hours one week but 22 the next, is that ok? How is it worked out - an average over a period of time? I have never claimed for childcare costs before so this is new to me.

Thank you.

Caz3121

you should be entitled to some help with the childcare costs - you need to average out your hours and the childcare costs. The hours with a couple I believe are rising to 24 from 16 but not sure when

skibadee

ManicMum wrote: »

Hello

My friend has 3 children and is on nearly £50k and gets help so this doesn't seem right.

How many children was your friend claiming childcare for though?....if she/he was claiming for more than 1 child that may be the reason why????
How old is the child you will need childcare for?

zagfles

The way tax credits are withdrawn with income could mean that you get no actual childcare element of WTC, but your CTC is higher instead. Try the calculator with and without the childcare and you should see a difference in CTC.

Either that or you're not eligible for some other reason - presume your partner works >16 hours also? You're income isn't the problem.

stroodes

thing is you may be better off not workin, sad but true
, hopefully this may not always be the way







ggg,ki

ng, sad but true,

skibadee

stroodes wrote: »

thing is you may be better off not workin, sad but true
, hopefully this may not always be the way



This is very true at the moment unfortunately.
I work in a childrens day nursery and numbers are reducing immensely due to changes in CTC/WTC and the childcare element.

It seems parents with children over 3yrs old are now beginning to use pre-shools and playgroups and family members inbetween times these are not open.....they are able to use the Government Grant for 3yr olds there too ... (as they are at nurseries).... and the times they may have to pay are alot cheaper there.

ManicMum

yes, skibadee. And when they make it 24 hours instead, I think even more people will give up. Where are all these magical extra hours going to come from for everyone? The dole queue will just go up.

Why the hell should Joe Blow suffer when these fat cats still living the life of riley? Writing letters to say they shouldn't have to pay 50p in the pound tax. Up it! Make it 75p and for bankers, they can just donate everything over £150k!! They can slum it for a while. Makes my blood boil.

:mad:

Sixer

ManicMum: it won't ever be 24 hours each for childcare. You will both just need to be working at least 16 hours to qualify. You can work more one week and less the next, but the average must be 16 hours or more. On income of £25k plus, say, £7k for your 16 hours, you will qualify for extra tax credits to cover childcare (as Zagfles said, it may be labelled oddly).

Your problem isn't income; it's ensuring you get in at least 16 hours on average.

DaisyFlower

ManicMum wrote: »

yes, skibadee. And when they make it 24 hours instead, I think even more people will give up. Where are all these magical extra hours going to come from for everyone? The dole queue will just go up.

Why the hell should Joe Blow suffer when these fat cats still living the life of riley? Writing letters to say they shouldn't have to pay 50p in the pound tax. Up it! Make it 75p and for bankers, they can just donate everything over £150k!! They can slum it for a while. Makes my blood boil.

:mad:

I dont think it will, it will simply stop those who do the bare min possible in order to gain more tax credits.

If you have a joint salary of £26500 for last year and this years will be lower then you may qualify for some assitance with childcare. Unless you are in a very expensive area for childcare like london you may not qualify if only claiming the costs for one child. You'll obviously get some CTC though.