child tax credit query

dolly74_2

My baby has not been born yet. It is due next month. I know I will struggle on maternity pay but i am more concerned about when i go back to work. You see, the way i see it, i will then have the same approximate income as being on maternity pay (partner full pay and me on half pay as i intend to do 18 hours a week rather than full time) but in the mix I will then have to pay for child care. I have tried going on the various calculators but find it very confusing as they are always talking about the previous tax year and obviously that will have been different.
Basically, my partner will be earning approx £16,000 a year and I will be earning £8,500. If we were not in debt, we could probably do it but the fact that as well as a mortgage we also pay about £300 a month out in debts means i will be £100 in the red every month. Does it sound like I would be entitled to child tax credit if i use a registered childminder? We do not have any other income. I will be going back to work in August 2012. I know that there have been changes to tax credits and i thought perhaps i will only get them if i work over 25 hours.

zagfles

Yes if you have eligible childcare costs you'll get tax credits on that sort of income. You both need to be working at least 16 hours pw.

sheilavw

Hi we get £10.45 a week for our 18 year old daughter. I assumed it would stop at the end of August (like child benefit) I have just received a bank statement and Im still getting it. She has now started uni. Is this right?

zagfles

sheilavw wrote: »

Hi we get £10.45 a week for our 18 year old daughter. I assumed it would stop at the end of August (like child benefit) I have just received a bank statement and Im still getting it. She has now started uni. Is this right?

No, it should have stopped on 31 August. Best phone and tell them...

sheilavw

Thanks I will phone them today. I presume they will want it back?

bestpud

sheilavw wrote: »

Thanks I will phone them today. I presume they will want it back?

Yes they will, but it may take them a while to get round to it so I'd put the money to one side in the meantime.

bestpud

dolly74 wrote: »

My baby has not been born yet. It is due next month. I know I will struggle on maternity pay but i am more concerned about when i go back to work. You see, the way i see it, i will then have the same approximate income as being on maternity pay (partner full pay and me on half pay as i intend to do 18 hours a week rather than full time) but in the mix I will then have to pay for child care. I have tried going on the various calculators but find it very confusing as they are always talking about the previous tax year and obviously that will have been different.
Basically, my partner will be earning approx £16,000 a year and I will be earning £8,500. If we were not in debt, we could probably do it but the fact that as well as a mortgage we also pay about £300 a month out in debts means i will be £100 in the red every month. Does it sound like I would be entitled to child tax credit if i use a registered childminder? We do not have any other income. I will be going back to work in August 2012. I know that there have been changes to tax credits and i thought perhaps i will only get them if i work over 25 hours.

To get a better idea, when you use turn2us, set your current and previous year income at the figure you expect to earn and enter that your child has already been born. That will give you a pretty good estimate of your entitlement.

Once the baby is here, you can take £100 a week from your maternity pay for tax credit purposes, as far as I am aware. Hopefully someone will confirm that.

LL30

bestpud wrote: »

To get a better idea, when you use turn2us, set your current and previous year income at the figure you expect to earn and enter that your child has already been born. That will give you a pretty good estimate of your entitlement.

Once the baby is here, you can take £100 a week from your maternity pay for tax credit purposes, as far as I am aware. Hopefully someone will confirm that.

That's right. There's a £100 p/wk disregard for when you're on SMP. If you're on MA, you don't include any of it. Makes a big difference