childcare element tax credits, for time when mot at work??

eliviajen

I work 16 hours with two children, the youngest goes to grandparents for childcare as she is a registered childminder, but refuses to be paid having him through her books - we treat her to meals out, and taxi-ing, as a thank you!!!

however, the youngest is very demanding and since having him i have absolutely no time to do anything - he doesnt sleep, and he needs attention constantly! I love my son very much, but at least with my daughter i could get houshold jobs done! - my home is a mess, and i seldom have time to eat or cook resulting in loosing 4 stone since having him - i now weigh just over 7stone.

I was considering putting him into nursery for maybes one morning a week when im not at work so i have time to clean the house and cook some meals for the family for the freezer for the week - would i be able to put this cost down in my tax credits claim?

I have tried plumbing the details into the calculator but i'm baffled!!!! we earn 23000, no disabilities, childcare would be 20 a week

Icequeen99

Yes, there is no requirement that the childcare has to take place when you are at work, as long as you are working at least 16 hours each.

You don't say how many hours your OH works?

You could claim it as childcare costs, but you would only get a maximum of 70%. You may not get any of the actual childcare element of working tax credit, but your child tax credit might go up slightly.

IQ

FBaby

Icequeen99 wrote: »

Yes, there is no requirement that the childcare has to take place when you are at work, as long as you are working at least 16 hours each.

Surely this is not the case? Why should tax payers pay childcare because someone can't be bothered to do cleaning after her children are in bed?

I was a single mum working full-time when my kids were 3yo and 18months. I didn't have much time to do cleaning and the rest either. Well I try to do most of what i had to do when they were asleep, but more importantly, they learnt to adapt and that mummy couldn't be with them every 2 seconds because I had chores to do.

The OP is very fortunate to have someone to look after her children so she doesn't have to pay childcare. Maybe with the money she is saving (at least 30% of what the childcare would cost), she can pay herself for an 1 hour or so. Oh and what is OP's partner doing (since she refers as 'we'). Can't he look after the children whilst OP does chores or vice versa?

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

FBaby wrote: »

Surely this is not the case? Why should tax payers pay childcare because someone can't be bothered to do cleaning after her children are in bed?

I was a single mum working full-time when my kids were 3yo and 18months. I didn't have much time to do cleaning and the rest either. Well I try to do most of what i had to do when they were asleep, but more importantly, they learnt to adapt and that mummy couldn't be with them every 2 seconds because I had chores to do.

The OP is very fortunate to have someone to look after her children so she doesn't have to pay childcare. Maybe with the money she is saving (at least 30% of what the childcare would cost), she can pay herself for an 1 hour or so. Oh and what is OP's partner doing (since she refers as 'we'). Can't he look after the children whilst OP does chores or vice versa?

Total rubbish! The OP and her husband pay tax why should they not get a little back in childcare? I too work and my son spends some time with my mum and in nursery. I believe nursery to be a very important part of a child's development. Also my son goes to nursery on a day that I have to myself to meet up with my friends and do the shopping, check bills and do budgeting. I do tend to keep ontop of my cleaning so all I have to do is tidy the drawing room when they head to bed and hoover.
OP You should get a little but as your only paying a little amount I dont expect it would be much.

FBaby

Total I believe nursery to be a very important part of a child's development.

. I totally agree, that's why they get the childcare grant when they turn 3.

Also my son goes to nursery on a day that I have to myself to meet up with my friends and do the shopping, check bills and do budgeting. I do tend to keep ontop of my cleaning so all I have to do is tidy the drawing room when they head to bed and hoover.

If that is part of what he is eligible as part of the grant, than lucky you. If you are claiming EXTRA tax credits for this, then it is disgraceful.

OP You should get a little but as your only paying a little amount I dont expect it would be much.

Hopefully it would be nothing at all. Benefits are about needs, as in real needs, not to have a little time off for one self because one is too lazy to do what most others do everyday. The OP has a partner AND only works 16 hours. If she can't cope, then she needs to look at the dynamics of her family, not expect others to pay for her. Many people work full-time and get no help at all towards childcare, why should someone do so when they are not even working during that time?

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

I get very little tax credits for my 3 boys due to the fact we own 2 properties that we rent out. He is eligible but we all pay tax and why should we not get something back for this? When im old and due to retire there will be no money in the pot for my pension so I pay tax on my house and my partner pays tax on his wages and ill be due to pay tax on my wages so why should I not get a little time to myself. I may be a mum but I am still a person!

System

I have to agree with the other posters. If the OP has a partner can one of them not distract the child so that the other one does the chores. OK the chores might have to be left until the partner comes home from work but that would be the solution rather than charging other taxpayers.

I understand where Mumto3cheekymonkeys is coming from regarding getting something back when you pay your taxes and that is why I disagree with the means testing of Child Benefit. I think that only penalises the very people who contribute into the Treasurys coffers. Far better to draw a line in the sand and from a certain date limit Child Benefit so that it's only payable for say the first 2 children so that in future people, especially those people already on benefits, have to consider if they can afford to add to their family.

MissMoneypenny

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

I get very little tax credits for my 3 boys due to the fact we own 2 properties that we rent out. He is eligible but we all pay tax and why should we not get something back for this?

Make the most of that anomaly. Income based welfare payments have a 16k capital limit, but for some strange reason the income based Tax Credits welfare payments was excluded from this. That anomaly looks set to be rectified when Universal Credit comes in from next year and replaces the income based welfare payments. That equity in your two rental investments will be part of your capital and you may find you have to pay for your own childminding so that you can go shopping with friends.

We are going back to the days of welfare for those who need it: it has been a long time coming.

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

Thank you Pam I appreciate your honesty. My partner often comes home and tends to our baby as he wakes from his nap just as I am finishing dinner and he does help when I need to clean. The point I was trying to make is exactly what you have said. We work very hard and have always strived to provide for our family ourselves. TC are a massive help and if we all thought the way Fbaby think we will find more people quitting there jobs as they will be better off on benefits as we would be (if we didn't have a mortgage) But why is it all about money? Surely people should want to work to teach there children that if you work hard and save you get nice things as I was always taught.

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Make the most of that anomaly. Income based welfare payments have a 16k capital limit, but for some strange reason, the income based Tax Credits welfare payments was excluded from this. That anomaly looks set to be rectified when Universal Credit comes in from next year and replaces the income based welfare payments. That equity in your two rental investments will be part of your capital.

That is part of our capital now however due to issues with tenants we have decided to sell the house and put the money into our new house and save some for the future.

FBaby

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

I get very little tax credits for my 3 boys due to the fact we own 2 properties that we rent out. He is eligible but we all pay tax and why should we not get something back for this? When im old and due to retire there will be no money in the pot for my pension so I pay tax on my house and my partner pays tax on his wages and ill be due to pay tax on my wages so why should I not get a little time to myself. I may be a mum but I am still a person!

Because all these things are your choices? Why should other subsidise your choices? If you want time for yourself to indulge and put your child in childcare during that time, that's your choice, but why should other pay for it? Many other people pay much taxes and get very little in return, that's how it is. Benefits are for needs, not for luxuries.

In any case, I've realised that in relation to OP question, my outrage was pointless as of course, she could put her child in nursery when she is at work for 16 hours, and then have the grand parent look after the child on the day she wants off, unless of course, the grand parent doesn't see it like that. Of course, that would mean still being liable for 30% or maybe more of the childcare fees, so possibly not a cheap choice to make for a bit of time off during the day for chores. Might work out cheaper to employ a cleaner a couple of hours a week.