EU citizen - mother, JSA?

beatrice75

Hi all. I'm a EU citizen, very recently became single mum working full time in London. I have one child in school and get child benefit. And I was using childcare vouchers up until now.... However...

As I cannot afford childcare fees (before/after school London rates), my mum has offered to move here and help me. Back home she is retired, very low pension about £150/month. She's also EU and 59 yrs old, so not pension age yet here.

So I will fully support them both financially so they'll both be my dependents.. But because I won't be using registered childcare I cannot claim child tax credit or use childcare vouchers to get tax relief, is that correct? I will also have to drop the 25% discount (single occupancy) on council tax.

Will my mum be eligible for any support (JSA?) as a part of my family? She will provide childcare to my daughter, but that doesn't make her a job seeker does it? She might be doing some extra baby-sitting during school hours, but as 'self-employed', if that makes sense.

Many thanks for any advice you can provide.

nannytone_2

she would have to pass the habitual residency test to be eligable for any benefit

Housing_Benefit_Officer

beatrice75 wrote: »

She might be doing some extra baby-sitting during school hours, but as 'self-employed', if that makes sense.

Many thanks for any advice you can provide.

She will need to check with Ofsted if she needs to be registered if babysitting for other peoples children.

princessdon

She can't babysit self employed without registration. Her pension will be deducted from JSA also

beatrice75

Princessdon, register as self employed with HMRC you mean?77

beatrice75

@HBO: I thought babysitters didn't need to register with Ofsted?

If she has to register, I still can't use childcare vouchers or claim tax credits, because she is a relative, right?

princessdon

You need clearance to look after children and charge for this. Not necessarily as a childminder, others look after children in their home (the child's not yours), but regulations for safeguarding apply with CRB and others.

beatrice75

@nannytone: as a family member of a EU national who works, does she have to pass that habitual residence test? She will completely move here but not sure exactly how that test works..

Housing_Benefit_Officer

beatrice75 wrote: »

@HBO: I thought babysitters didn't need to register with Ofsted?

If she has to register, I still can't use childcare vouchers or claim tax credits, because she is a relative, right?

You can only claim tax credits for childcare provided by a relative if the relative is either:

a registered childminder who cares for your child outside of your child's own home.

a childcare provider, approved under a Home Child Care Providers Scheme in Wales or Northern Ireland, who cares for your child outside of your child's own home - but they must also care for at least one other child who's not related to them.

nannytone_2

beatrice75 wrote: »

@nannytone: as a family member of a EU national who works, does she have to pass that habitual residence test? She will completely move here but not sure exactly how that test works..

she will have to pass it if she wants to claim benefit

princessdon

Eg I have a babysitter - it's my youngests ex nursery key worker retired on ill health. I pay her £10 an hour, plus she dies dishes and ironing etc. a godsend when I am stuck. But I know her, she looked after all my children in nursery, I wouldn't trust a stranger. There are loads of babysitting agencies that she could register with though. Has to be less than x hrs per week in THEIR home and subject to checks.

Dog walking etc is also popular for people in that situation.