working tax credits & foster care

grotbag

We are foster carers for our Local Authority & my husband has been taken off incapacity benefit due to all the new rulings have said he's fit to work, not much point in appealing. We are thinking of registering as self employed foster carers, we have been told we can claim working tax credits. We have been in touch with HMRC but they have been no help really. What we need to find out is what to do next & which is the best way to go about it, is there anyone at all who can help us, We DON'T want to give fostering up

Caz3121

there is some information here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/foster-carers.htm#s

dane-katie

Dont you get an allowance for fostering?

stroodes

I would hope this is a troll, however why is there a problem for either your husband or yourself to work and provide for your children, if you feel you can't do this then surely you shouldn't foster if you can't provide.

Oldernotwiser

stroodes wrote: »

I would hope this is a troll, however why is there a problem for either your husband or yourself to work and provide for your children, if you feel you can't do this then surely you shouldn't foster if you can't provide.

What a ridiculous thing to say!

Foster carers have never been expected to support their foster children out of their own income and those who care for the most challenging children can often claim a professional allowance in addition to the normal maintenance allowance.

In these situations, believe me they earn every penny!

C.C.L.

If you declare yourselves a self employed foster carers then you are entitled to working tax credits. Your earnings are classed as nil for tax credits and income tax (no income tax to pay at all). Also your NI contributions are paid for, so nothing to pay towards them either.
There used to be an option as to claiming tax credits or income support, but I'm not sure if this is still the case but it certainly was 2 years ago.
Tax credits should have all the info to hand, failing that the wages department of your local authority should be able to provide you with the information.
You will need a letter confirming that you are foster carers, your link worker should be able to provide you with this, and this should be forwarded to the tax credit office. HTH.

grotbag

I don't think you get it STROODES! Foster caring is a VERY DEMANDING JOB!! Not everyone can actually do it & maybe your one of those people I am very offended by your comment. The children get a fee to take care of them it is their money not ours. We love the job we do & don't want to give it up hence needing advice on what to do next. Oh by the way it is 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.

grotbag

Thanks for that C.C.L. sorry to sound a bit daft but the problem we're having is how many hours do we declare why do have to tell working tax credits how much the allowance is for the two children we have at the moment etc. Everyone we ask independent advisory services, CAB, Fostering Network, other fostering organisations say it is nil income & we will be entitled to full working tax credits, HMRC say they can't do a calculation & just put an application in.

C.C.L.

grotbag wrote: »

Thanks for that C.C.L. sorry to sound a bit daft but the problem we're having is how many hours do we declare why do have to tell working tax credits how much the allowance is for the two children we have at the moment etc. Everyone we ask independent advisory services, CAB, Fostering Network, other fostering organisations say it is nil income & we will be entitled to full working tax credits, HMRC say they can't do a calculation & just put an application in.

The hours you declare are the above 30 option, as in theory you work 24/7. No you don't have to tell tax credits how much allowance you get, not even if you get a professional fee as part of your allowance. You are entitled to the full amount of tax credits, and when you fill your application in (or do it over the phone) it automatically puts you on to the correct payment, as there's a special box they use (when applying by phone) as it's an automatic entitlement.
You shouldn't have any problem at all, they have thousands of foster carers claiming tax credits. I would apply by phone TBH, as then you can explain everything to the advisor who will take your claim, if there are any queries. The tax office have a special short tax return for foster carers and that is easy to do. HTH, and any more questions please ask, and I honestly don't think you're a bit daft, lol, it can be very confusing, but definately worth having, and once your initial claim is in, renewing it is easy.