tax credits childcare - help i havent a clue!

GobbledyGook

I only know because a Mum I know was in a terrible state over it. She'd been offered a job, but the nursery wouldn't take her child until she'd paid the first week in advance (it was full time), but tax credits couldn't help until the nursery confirmed the child had started.

Lots of nurseries and childminders around here are insisting on at least a week (some a month) of payments in advance because too many people send their child for a month, then don't pay or send them again.

I believe this was part of tax credits' recent 'error and fraud' initiative which seen them check so many cases.

GobbledyGook

Also remember that during the school holidays you also have to make sure you only claim for the maximum (which is a % of £300 for 2 children) rather than dividing any total over that over all of the weeks.

Someone local to me got hit with a massive overpayment because her children are only in childcare for the 13 weeks holidays. She averaged it out of the 51/52 weeks of the year so her average weekly cost over the year seemed less, but she is only entitled to the % of £300 for 13 weeks not 52 weeks.

LL30

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I only know because a Mum I know was in a terrible state over it. She'd been offered a job, but the nursery wouldn't take her child until she'd paid the first week in advance (it was full time), but tax credits couldn't help until the nursery confirmed the child had started.

Lots of nurseries and childminders around here are insisting on at least a week (some a month) of payments in advance because too many people send their child for a month, then don't pay or send them again.

I believe this was part of tax credits' recent 'error and fraud' initiative which seen them check so many cases.

Yes finding the first months fees upfront is a nightmare, but it sounds like your Mum's childcare provider isn't very good tbh! I know mine wouldn't have had an issue with putting her on role as it's just paperwork and if they've had their 'settling in' sessions (as any good child provider would insist upon) they should be on the books anyway. It's completely normal for any service to ask for payment in advance and not in arrears but I can't for the life of me work out the mentality of people sending their kids for a month and then not sending them again, or not paying - how is that useful if you need childcare?!

I think it's good that tax credits are checking with the childcare providers, but maybe if the problem exists as you say it does, there needs to be a dialogue between tax credits and child care providers to prevent this stalemate situation.

GobbledyGook

A lot of the childcare providers won't tell tc's that the child has started before they've started in the fee-paying place because the amount of people who have done this then never sent the child, but never let on to tc's is massive.

One childminder I know got a call during the review period about a child who'd had 3 settling in periods and never returned to her. The parents had been claiming the costs for 3 years!!

LL30

GobbledyGook wrote: »

A lot of the childcare providers won't tell tc's that the child has started before they've started in the fee-paying place because the amount of people who have done this then never sent the child, but never let on to tc's is massive.

One childminder I know got a call during the review period about a child who'd had 3 settling in periods and never returned to her. The parents had been claiming the costs for 3 years!!

3 years! Wow, some people eh? The childcare providers don't get into trouble for it though do they?

GobbledyGook

LL30 wrote: »

3 years! Wow, some people eh? The childcare providers don't get into trouble for it though do they?

No, it's got nothing to do with them really. They are just really annoyed that people are running up bills with them AND getting tax credits unchecked for that time.

Those parents had committed to a months worth of full time care and she couldn't fill that space for a while. So they owed her for that time plus they were getting tax credits, I can understand them being wary about it. It's also why a lot won't give parents their registration number now until they've paid a deposit or started the settling in because having a valid registration number and details on the form seemed to lessen the chances of being caught.

It's why the Childminders locally think tax credits should pay directly to the CM.

LL30

GobbledyGook wrote: »

No, it's got nothing to do with them really. They are just really annoyed that people are running up bills with them AND getting tax credits unchecked for that time.

Those parents had committed to a months worth of full time care and she couldn't fill that space for a while. So they owed her for that time plus they were getting tax credits, I can understand them being wary about it. It's also why a lot won't give parents their registration number now until they've paid a deposit or started the settling in because having a valid registration number and details on the form seemed to lessen the chances of being caught.

It's why the Childminders locally think tax credits should pay directly to the CM.

I suppose that would make sense, although I'm not sure I'd trust tax credits to get it right!! I guess it's different for childminders, my nursery have their reg number on everything, so you could quote it without having to ask for it. Sounds like the childcare system is in need of an overhaul. It makes me angry because I am so grateful for the help I get (well not currently, but that's a different matter) and I'd never take advantage, but i know plenty will.

pinky2681

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Also remember that during the school holidays you also have to make sure you only claim for the maximum (which is a % of £300 for 2 children) rather than dividing any total over that over all of the weeks.

Someone local to me got hit with a massive overpayment because her children are only in childcare for the 13 weeks holidays. She averaged it out of the 51/52 weeks of the year so her average weekly cost over the year seemed less, but she is only entitled to the % of £300 for 13 weeks not 52 weeks.

eh? I dont understand