Baby due in April - Worried about childcare costs when returning to work

Ben86123

Hi all,

New to the forum and just after some advice.

We're due a baby in April and we're just forward thinking about child care costs when my partner returns to work.
I earn £25,000 (before tax) and my partner earns £16,000 (before tax)

Sounds like quite a high wage, but when rent alone is £9,300 pa it soon goes!

We've checked out the entitled to site and it says we're not entitled to no help as my earnings are to high - They don't factor in food costs, car running costs and everything else. It seem's as though we would be better off her saying she is a single parent, that way receiving help with child care costs (£900 a month for 5 days a week) We really don't want to go down this route as we have never claimed benefits in our lives, but we would be fighting a losing battle. Our expenditures would far out weigh our joint income. We don't want to claim housing benefit etc just need some help with child care costs. Unfortunately we don't have family members who are able to mind the little one for us.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

marliepanda

You can't 'go down that route' because it's not true, not because you choose not to.

seven-day-weekend

Is it possible for one or both of you to work different hours so that one of you can be there to look after the baby sometimes? Or perhaps one of you do three days a week and the other two days a week?

I know this would be less money coming in, but would be offset by not having to pay childcare and less in travelling.

Caz3121

Ben86123 wrote: »

Hi all,

New to the forum and just after some advice.

We're due a baby in April and we're just forward thinking about child care costs when my partner returns to work.
I earn £25,000 (before tax) and my partner earns £16,000 (before tax)

Sounds like quite a high wage, but when rent alone is £9,300 pa it soon goes!

We've checked out the entitled to site and it says we're not entitled to no help as my earnings are to high - They don't factor in food costs, car running costs and everything else. It seem's as though we would be better off her saying she is a single parent, that way receiving help with child care costs (£900 a month for 5 days a week) We really don't want to go down this route as we have never claimed benefits in our lives, but we would be fighting a losing battle. Our expenditures would far out weigh our joint income. We don't want to claim housing benefit etc just need some help with child care costs. Unfortunately we don't have family members who are able to mind the little one for us.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

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

You will see that the maximum childcare costs they allow is £175 per week = £758 per month and would base any claim on a % of that

Remember your partner will have been on maternity leave for part of the tax year and when calculating income, can reduce the income by £100 per week during that period

Committing benefit fraud should not even be considered an option - apart from risking a criminal conviction you would have the additional costs of 2 lots of rent, 2 lots of bills and not be able to be a family - would your partner really want to bring up a baby alone with no support, looking over shoulder to see if anyone has reported that you are visiting regularly

StormyWeather_2

You could post your income and expenditure on the debt-free wannabe board and they'll make suggestions for what you can cut back on.

Poppie68

Ben86123 wrote: »

Hi all,

New to the forum and just after some advice.

We're due a baby in April and we're just forward thinking about child care costs when my partner returns to work.
I earn £25,000 (before tax) and my partner earns £16,000 (before tax)

Sounds like quite a high wage, but when rent alone is £9,300 pa it soon goes!

We've checked out the entitled to site and it says we're not entitled to no help as my earnings are to high - They don't factor in food costs, car running costs and everything else. It seem's as though we would be better off her saying she is a single parent, that way receiving help with child care costs (£900 a month for 5 days a week) We really don't want to go down this route as we have never claimed benefits in our lives, but we would be fighting a losing battle. Our expenditures would far out weigh our joint income. We don't want to claim housing benefit etc just need some help with child care costs. Unfortunately we don't have family members who are able to mind the little one for us.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Well on the off chance you are not a bridge dweller, and really are considering turning into a criminal (if you are not now):

What you are proposing is benefit fraud, and hopefully if you do go down that route you will be caught and prosecuted..

Costs that come with having a baby should of been thought of before conception not in pregnancy.

You have a healthy wage between you people on far less manage to survive..you are most probably living far beyond your means and now wish to steal and conive to fund your overspending...

Rein your spending in as you obviously can't afford the family you are now so why should tax payers money bail you out for your choices, be a man and get a second or even third job to provide for your family.

My post may be harsh but i can't abide thieves..

fabforty

As others have said, you need to look at your spending and find ways to cut that back there. Or look at other employment options, such as wife working part-time around your fulltime hours, you finding a second job or even some kind of homeworking or home business even - yes, that might mean less family time, but many people do it if it means supporting their family.
Becoming a single parent is not a solution (the cost of you finding somewhere else to live would far outweigh any benefits that she might receive, plus then trying to juggle a child and work single-handedly), and TBH many of us would be better off financially if we played the system, so you are unlikely to get much sympathy wih that attitude. We would also be better off financially if OH lived elsewhere and even better still if he was the 'single parent', as I am the higher earner. Generous benefits plus a high salary.
I am sure that you didn't mean it to sound the way it did, but it had that tone of 'entitlement' plus 'lack of foresight - i.e. we'll have a baby and then worry about how we will manage later' that really grates.

bossymoo

Also worth checking with your employers if they do a childcare voucher salary sacrifice scheme. Can reduce costs a bit. Also shop around, different nurseries, childminders etc.
Is it possible for either of you to work compressed hours? A four-day week perhaps? This of course will depend on travel distance but worth considering.

KarlBristol

Most employers have to make reasonable working arrangements for people who have children under 3 (or under 5 in some organisations). As such it might be worth seeing if you and your partner can juggle your hours/days between you to ensure that one of you can look after the little one at all times.

I certainly wouldn't contemplate benefit fraud as you'll end up in a far far worse situation... And it's illegal!

Considered asking family or friends to help with child care?

Your in a similar financial situation to my partner and I. We get £80pcm for child benefits (if that's what it's still called) but that's it. Financially it isn't comfortable having a child and having a mortgage, bills etc... But there's always a way.

As previously suggested - try being brutal about your finances and have a look at what you can cut.

Poppie68

KarlBristol wrote: »

Most employers have to make reasonable working arrangements for people who have children under 3 (or under 5 in some organisations). As such it might be worth seeing if you and your partner can juggle your hours/days between you to ensure that one of you can look after the little one at all times.

I certainly wouldn't contemplate benefit fraud as you'll end up in a far far worse situation... And it's illegal!

Considered asking family or friends to help with child care?

Your in a similar financial situation to my partner and I. We get £80pcm for child benefits (if that's what it's still called) but that's it. Financially it isn't comfortable having a child and having a mortgage, bills etc... But there's always a way.

As previously suggested - try being brutal about your finances and have a look at what you can cut.

No employer has to make allowances etc for employee's with young children, what they have to do is consider any requests for flexible hours or reduction of hours, but then they have to give the same consideration for non parent employee's, and the disabled.
Lots of things they can't do, but not alot they have to do.

nonnatus

Wow! Bit late to be working all this out really!


I can't believe you are considering FRAUD to get hold of some benefits, and that you're asking these good people for ways to help you do it!!?


Plenty of people get by with a child and one salary (especially one as good as yours). You'll certainly have to make some changes and budget, but that's all part of starting a family anyway.


I truly hope your post is a wind up because if people really do think like you, there is no hope.