Are my Nursery Costs too high?????

fiona1125

Hello All

I had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and now need to go back to work.

I have 2 boys already which are in school but i need to put my newborn in a nursery. I was orginally going to claim JSA while i looked for a job as i was assuming it would take ages to find one but i managed to find myself a job on friday, go for an interview on friday and get the job, i start December 1st. My partner also works but is on a very low income due to a sudden down turn in workloads so i really need to go to work. My partner currently works about 26 hours a week and i am going to be working 37 hours and our total earnings will be 28k per annum.

My question is.... i have managed to find a nursery that will take my little girl at her age but they charge £211 a week. I have read on gov website that the maximum childcare i can get help with is £175! Having my baby brain on this has confused me, do i need to find a nursery that charges me £175 a week or under or will i still get help with my costs at the £211 nursery, if so, how much??

If i didn't get help with my child costs by the time i paid my nursery fees i would be left with £38.

Ihope that makes some sort of sense and any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

P.S. DO I NEED TO LET THE TAX CREDITS KNOW I HAVE HAD ANOTHER CHILD OR DO I WAIT UNTIL THE RENEWEL??

Horseunderwater

Let them know straight away re the new baby's arrival so that you get all the CTC you need for rest of year.
Not sure about the other bit re nursery fees.

fiona1125

Thank you for the reply!

Will i get the Child Tax Credits straight away for my little girl or do i have to wait until next year.

Caz3121

the entitlement tables are here as a guide - it shows that with 3 children the maximum childcare costs is £300 a week

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-pay-childcare.htm

pmlindyloo

If it is only your baby that will be in child care then the maximum amount is indeed £175. You can pay more but your would only get 70% of this maximum.

Of course it would be better if you could find somewhere cheaper but you are allowed to use somewhere more expensive - just won't receive the extra.

You should notify tax credits about your change of circumstances. Did you inform them that you were on maternity leave as this will also alter your claim? (you can deduct £100 per week from any maternity allowance - this is a disregard)

I should telephone them asap so that they are fully aware of your circumstances.

FBaby

Is the £211 for a full-time position? Can you partner look after her on some days, or maybe try to re-arrange his hours to reduce the time that is paid for at nursery. I'm sure you must have thought about this though.

Good luck with your new job. I started a new job when my boy was 4 months old, but 1 month, that's quite amazing!

fiona1125

Thanks for your reply's! I will notify the Tax Credits tomorrow about my newborn.

I can find a lots of cheaper nursery's in my area but they will all only take children from 3 months, i have only managed to find one nursery that will take children from birth and thats the expensive one. Its not my choice to go back to work so early, i would love to spend more time with my gorgeous little bundle of love but financially can't afford to, she was planned and has come along at a difficult time financially.

My partner is also looking for another job but as our monthly mortgage payment is over a 1.5k per month he is struggling to find a job that pays enough.

He can't get anymore felxibility with his work either.

I found on one of the gov sites that i could get £122.50 a week for childcare, is that correct????????? If so, that would mean i would only have to pay £100 a week out of my wage.

Icequeen99

fiona1125 wrote: »

I found on one of the gov sites that i could get £122.50 a week for childcare, is that correct????????? If so, that would mean i would only have to pay £100 a week out of my wage.

You get a maximum of 70% of 175 which is where the £122.50.

IQ

bexy_v

Im no good on benefits/help towards child care in that sense but the general cost for my little one in nursery is £40 a day (that's the norm in Devon area), He is two and I know when he is 3 he gets 12 hrs free I think but other than the tax break I get by buying childcare vouchers im not sure there is any other help? but again im not clued up on the WTC/CTC side of things but I hope you can sort something good lukc x


It is pricey though, both myself ( I work 27 hrs a week) and my husband work but with mortgage etc. I can only afford one child.. and no I don't take any benefits except the normal child allowance.