Working TC and Child TC & Child Care Vouchers

comfort0289

HI All,

Am wondering if someone could help me please.

I have been on maternity since Jan 21st 2014 and have been receiving SMP since April 1st 2014 @ standard rate (Jan - Apr was CMP @ full pay)

My partner is currently not working and based on our annual income for this year (him £0 and me £10,000 - based on returning full time to work in October) we have been receiving WTC and CTC since April (previous years income too high).

If I return to work and my partner remains not working we will not receive any child care cost assistance as it is deemed that he would look after our child.

He has however recently started up as a self employed painter and decorator and as such will not be able to care for our child.

My question is two fold:

1) does anyone have any idea on possible benefits we may receive (and respect amounts) if we are both working (me part time earning around 4000 this financial year and him working part time earning around 6000 (after expenses) and with childcare costs of £80 per week (2 days per week)

2) my company offer 2% salary sacrifice scheme which allows me to use 2% of my current full time employment contract wage to spend on various things including CC vouchers. This would means that i would receive around 35 a month of my CC paid via vouchers however i am trying to find the most financially beneficial scheme to put my 2% in and if i am not paying tax and NI because of my income being below the threshold is it worth me using CC vouchers? Also by using CC vouchers via my employers will this have a negative effect on my WTC and CTC support

I am trying to work out overall the best scenerio for my family.

Returning to work full time (me) is not an option and therefore i am weighing up whether it is more beneficial for me to work or stay at home and bring up my daughter.

My BF income would be relatively low this year not only because its a new business but he goes to college part time. He would look to work the required 24hrs per week if i wasnt working to meet the WTC requirement.

I am interested on any ones opinion as to what would be most financially benefically for my family. This isnt our long term plan and it is just whilst he gets started up and my child/ren (eventually) are small.

Thanks in advance everyone. Really appreciate your time.

comfort0289

If we were both working i believe it was a total combined of 24 with one doing 16 so i planned to do the other 8 if possible. I will do whatever i need (work/not work) in order to support my family financially as best as possible. Thanks

comfort0289

Thanks so much for your reply. Makes more sense now x