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New Tax-Free Childcare scheme boosted to £2,000 per child

"Almost two million working families could get an allowance of up to £2,000 per child for childcare from autumn 2015"
Read the full story:

New Tax-Free Childcare scheme boosted to £2,000 per child

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  • turtlemoose
    turtlemoose Posts: 1,662 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    You can't be in both schemes at once, but what about this scenario:

    I currently receive childcare vouchers, they have a long expiry date. I save my vouchers up for future use. The new scheme comes in, I enrol, I receive 20% of my childcare costs. Can I still use the vouchers that I bought before the new scheme, or will they not allow that as you are using 2 schemes at once?
  • The article states that those on maternity / paternity leave are entitled as well, how is this supposed to work ? I havent heard of anyone placing their baby in childcare while they are on maternity so who would benefit from this ?
    Never trust any stats you didn't fudge yourself ;o)

    Personality profile: I.N.T.J.
  • superbigal36
    superbigal36 Posts: 734 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 19 March 2014 at 10:26AM
    Unless I am mistaken the current scheme is far better for me.
    No working or child tax credits to complicate as 2 earners totalling circa £64,000
    I take all the £243 vouchers a month (£2916). Saving £930 a year.
    My Childcare bill is actually around £2900.
    On those figures I would be rebated 20% of £2900 or only £580.
    Is it that simple ? Ie stay on current scheme.



    I am also interested to know if my Wife joined the current scheme and we stockpiled vouchers. Then changed to the new scheme. Surely you could use your vouchers to pay the new 80% costs.
  • turtlemoose
    turtlemoose Posts: 1,662 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    dubito people might have more than one child, and they want the older child to go to nursery in preparation for school. My DS currently goes to nursery full time and if I had another baby before he started school, I would reduce his nursery time but I would not stop it, if we could afford it, as I think it would help with the transition in to school.
  • Icequeen99
    Icequeen99 Posts: 3,775 Forumite
    The MSE article has a mistake in the table, it is disabled children under 17 not 16 that are included.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293084/PU1607_Tax_free_Childcare_response.pdf

    Para 2.8

    IQ
  • think if not wrong this new child tax credit is only is single or if both parents are working what about us Grandparents that look after there Grandughter full time that is our situation did get child tax credit at one stage but because the government reduced the amount we are allowed to earn we lost it because my salary was £300 over the limit

    the question is why does it have to be single and Joint parents that are working can get the Credit what about family's that only have one person working there must be 1,000's of us out there we are missing out on they have rules for one now and not for the other must be discriminating should be for all family's not just some
  • Exactly, we're getting by on a single income as my wife is studying so she can get back to work - we need the support more than a couple earning £300,000 a year between them, yet because only I'm working, we're not eligible???
    garyjohn wrote: »
    think if not wrong this new child tax credit is only is single or if both parents are working what about us Grandparents that look after there Grandughter full time that is our situation did get child tax credit at one stage but because the government reduced the amount we are allowed to earn we lost it because my salary was £300 over the limit

    the question is why does it have to be single and Joint parents that are working can get the Credit what about family's that only have one person working there must be 1,000's of us out there we are missing out on they have rules for one now and not for the other must be discriminating should be for all family's not just some
  • No where have I heard or read whether the scheme will depend on your childcare being provided by an Ofsted registered nursery or childminder (as is the current voucher scheme). We live in a very rural area where there are no registered minders or nurseries. I still have to pay for childcare though!
    There must be hundreds of thousands of families in a similar situation- where childcare is 'cobbled together' - still with great care from the providers though!
  • I'm a medical student and so don't count as working, although we do need childcare. My husband works and gets CCV currently. I have a small business from home - when I have the time - baking party cakes etc. I'm fully registered with Environmental Health etc, so would I count as self-employed? I do log all my costs and sales anyway, but would I have to also pay my NI contribution to be eligible for this? We did opt to keep CB as husband's income could vary, and apparently this keeps me in date with pension contributions etc as well.
  • Is it a rebate or a contribution?

    Ie if I pay in £100, will I get £20 back so I'd still be £100 in credit, or will the govt add £20 so I'm £120 in credit?
This discussion has been closed.
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