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

FBaby

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

So what your saying is the parents that decide to keep popping out children but not go to work deserve to have there childcare paid for so they can catch up on tv, shopping and cleaning but someone who does work hard deserves no help because they have a wage and put in to the system. Oh it all makes sense now!

Certainly not what I am saying!!! I think childcare help should be provided to allow people to go to work and contribute towards the welfare bill. You don't need childcare because you don't work, you don't get it. If you need respite, either you factor that cost in and pay it yourself, or arrange things with your family. It is not for tax payers to pay for anyone to do chores or relax.

Working 16 hours a week with two children and with a partner and a parent who can helpo is certainly not what I would qualify as tough... I know a number single parents who worked full-time with two children and no help at all (I was one of them). They manage like I did and my kids were also very demanding. The OP's situation from what she has written is not different to that of millions of mothers around the world.

princessdon

As others have said - the way to do it is to "use childcare for when you work" and your parents for respite.

The way this is arranged is neither here nor there. That said based on your income not sure how much you'd actually get.

Re other comments. I have worked since my children were young, I have no family near me to help and have not received 1 penny in child tax, working tax or any form of assistance other than Child Benefit.

I'd have loved to have childcare or parents as a break - but it wasn't to be, I couldn't afford to pay £80 a month for a few hours break. I'd be a bit green eyed of OP, but wouldn't begrudge it for a second. They are paying (minimum 30%) and also helping to keep childcare workers in employment too.

Being a mum is tough - and yes many of us do it all on our own but not many would turn down an offer of help (either via a nursery or parents/relatives).

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

princessdon wrote: »

As others have said - the way to do it is to "use childcare for when you work" and your parents for respite.

The way this is arranged is neither here nor there. That said based on your income not sure how much you'd actually get.

Re other comments. I have worked since my children were young, I have no family near me to help and have not received 1 penny in child tax, working tax or any form of assistance other than Child Benefit.

I'd have loved to have childcare or parents as a break - but it wasn't to be, I couldn't afford to pay £80 a month for a few hours break. I'd be a bit green eyed of OP, but wouldn't begrudge it for a second. They are paying (minimum 30%) and also helping to keep childcare workers in employment too.

Being a mum is tough - and yes many of us do it all on our own but not many would turn down an offer of help (either via a nursery or parents/relatives).

I very much agree. My mother was a single parent with 4 of us and im sure we were all very much a handful. She worked 60 hours a week if not more and worked all day xmas and new years for a little extra cash, she was lucky our aunt took care of us and I am lucky that I have her help now although the first few years i did it on my own and it was tough. I have read another post of F baby and you are the exact type of person we need in the world. However I feel the government is failing people like you you work hard and earn over the threashold. My friend who now has 5 children by 4 different dads at the age of 22 told me the other day that she had no intention of going to work as the tax payer pays everything for her and she is better off then 2 full time working parents! The local council have also told her that they will place her 3 youngest children in nursery for her as she has 3 children under 3! I feel that rather then helping her in this way the government should help working parents as and "incentive" to goto work as it would seem to me there are very little reasons to go to work these days

mildred1978

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

Total rubbish! The OP and her husband pay tax why should they not get a little back in childcare? .

£23k and 2x tax allowances = about £1400 maximum per year paid in tax between them.

They'll be getting child benefit worth about £1560 per year already. So the rest of us are covering their healthcare and other universal benefits, and now you'd like us to pay for childcare too?

Starrystarrynight

As someone who doesn't have children, and hasn't ever really thought about the original question, I'm shocked to hear that people can claim childcare tax credit for times when they aren't at work, or even for more hours than they actually work.

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

WE (as im also a taxpayer) all pay 50% of my childcare. ok lets look at this from a different point of view. My boys used to go to nursery 3 days a week when I went to work they would go from 7-4.30. I would get home from work at around 1.30 I would have a shower, do mine and my elderly neighbours shopping and then go and help my nan do some tidying. On one of the afternoons I would go and play tennis with my friends and then attend a counselling meeting (I have Bipolar). My mother in law then got sick and because I was receiving help with my Tc for my childcare my boys went in from 7-5 everyday. I would finish work at 12 then go and care for my mother in law who was dying. If the government did not help to pay for my childcare I would not have been able to help my elderly neighbours and my nan and then care for my dying MIL.

princessdon

Starrystarrynight wrote: »

As someone who doesn't have children, and hasn't ever really thought about the original question, I'm shocked to hear that people can claim childcare tax credit for times when they aren't at work, or even for more hours than they actually work.

It isn't always that simple. I never claimed any child tax (but would have if the govt made it available), but here is a hypothetical example.

18.5 hr week (0.5 post). The nurseries require a half day to be 8 - 12.30/1. There is no way that you can leave work and be at the nursery by cut off time. Plus travel to and from child/care to work. I pay for 3 days a week childcare but only use 2.5 days. Now personally I pick my wee one up on the way home at around 2 pm but I have paid until 6 pm. Occasionally I may do my shopping and pick up at 2.45 but as I have to be at school by 3.10 this is rare as not enough time so easier to pick child up and then shop. If the tax payer was paying for this, I'd still be entitled to leave my child till 6pm if I wished to and have the afternoon off to do my nails or go to the gym.

Icequeen99

FBaby wrote: »

Are you totally certain about this? There was a thread some time ago about someone who did exactly that who ended up investigated and had to repay what they'd receive for the hours she wasn't working.

I am 100% certain. If you look at Regulation 13/14 WTC EMR Regulations 2002, the only requirement is that you each work at least 16 hours (if you are part of a couple and neither is incapacitated, a carer, in prison or hospital). There is nothing in the regulations that require you to only use childcare during the hours that you work.

HMRC obviously don't go to lengths to advertise it. But it helps for people who do shift work so they can get consistent childcare. That said it is never going to be abused is it, because you have to stump up 30% at least.

IQ

kingfisherblue

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

WE (as im also a taxpayer) all pay 50% of my childcare. ok lets look at this from a different point of view. My boys used to go to nursery 3 days a week when I went to work they would go from 7-4.30. I would get home from work at around 1.30 I would have a shower, do mine and my elderly neighbours shopping and then go and help my nan do some tidying. On one of the afternoons I would go and play tennis with my friends and then attend a counselling meeting (I have Bipolar). My mother in law then got sick and because I was receiving help with my Tc for my childcare my boys went in from 7-5 everyday. I would finish work at 12 then go and care for my mother in law who was dying. If the government did not help to pay for my childcare I would not have been able to help my elderly neighbours and my nan and then care for my dying MIL.

I don't think anyone would object to your children being in childcare whilst you are attending councselling or when you were caring for your MIL.

OP, I can't answer your question as I don't know how the childcare part of CTC works. I can say, however, that most children are demanding. With my two youngest, I had to fit in housework when they were busy with toys or books, or when my (now ex) husband came home from work. There is only 19 months between them and one is disabled. I had to give up work because of lack of childcare and the numerous appointments that I had to take my son to - at times there were appointments four or five days a week. Every Friday, my son had Portage (an early intervention programme for the developmentally delayed) and I had to carry out certain tasks wih him on a daily basis. I also had to fit in physiotherapy, speech therapy exercises, and the copious amountws of washing and drying that comes with a child who voimts every time he sits upright (despite medication and surgery!)

At times, the housework didn't get done as thouroughly as I would have liked. but hey ho, never mind. The kids were clean, fed and loved. They still are, and I'm still coping with the washing pile that comes with a child who vomits regularly (not as much now, but still a few times a week) and who, at 14, is doubly incontinent. Ironing has gone out of the window unless it is absolutely necessary. I still do physio and speech therapy exercises, along with dispensing ten medications a day (some up to three times a day). There are plenty of other examples of how I spend my time, but housework comes down the list. I do what has to be done, and every now and then blitz the rest.

Yes, the kids do help. Even my disabled child can change his bedding (with help) and can take his washing down to the machine. Little ones can help in all sorts of ways and it can be a great chance to chat with them, teach them colours and counting, etc.

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

Yes I am aware but if there was the rule "we only pay when you work" I would not have been able to do this that's the point I am making. And hearing your story you must be knackered!