UC Transition

hulahoop09

Hiya

We currently on claim child benefit (our joint income is less than 30k atm). We are due another baby in november and will be able to claim approx £30-£40pm in CTC. From june/july next year we will then need to put our children in childcare when I go back to work after maternity leave so will receive some help towards this (atm it is approx £750pm if we were to have the 2 children in childcare now).

I believe from october 2013 they are going to start any new claims on the UC system so when we claim for the new babies arrival in november does this mean we will go through the new UC channels in which case we will likely not get any CTC.

I used an online UC calculator (not sure how accurate) and it stated we would only be able to claim £600 pm (total of ctc and childcare help) which is £150 less than what we would currently get. As our childcare cost next year will be approx £1040 this drop of £150 is gutting as it will have a big impact on us.

Its all so confusing as to what channel we will be sent down. Not sure if they are going to continue to impact the working family even more in a bad way when they said they would help us. The childcare costs we are looking at is cheapest that we ccan get to as we dont drive. Such a worry!

Horseunderwater

Not for tax credits they are not. Do you have what is called a live nil award at present? If so what happens is that when baby is born - you ring them up and tell them the happy date and once you register new baby birth you can then fill out the child benefit form at that point. Did you also know that you can deduct £100 from your income for this year from the SMP. The total being 39 weeks, which if baby is due in November will mean it will run in the next tax year too. Do either of your employer run a childcare voucher scheme? Sometimes these can be a way to help with costs.

hulahoop09

Yes we were able to get £45 pm for 5 months when our lg was born but then they changed the threshold for which we earnt about £500 per year more so could no longer get the ctc of £45 pm. We asked them to keep the claim 'open' even though we arent receiving a payment pm. Will we receive a renewal this year just to give them updated figures etc?

yes I was sure to deduct the £100 pw I think it was when last on smp, they advised me this over the phone. Lol.

So we update them when new baby arrives and then we will receive the small payment per month then when we start paying childcare next june/july we just update them again?