30 hours free childcare issue

anticlaus105

We started receiving this in January 2018. When I applied I received a call to check eligibility. I advised the caller that as a company director, I just pay myself once a year. If averaged out over 52 weeks it is enough to meet the minimum pay. We received the 30 hours. In April I reapplied. In June I paid myself my annual salary and won’t pay again until after 5th April next year. I received no communication from childcare services and my calendar reminded me to reapply in July. When I logged in in July I found we had been denied in April with 30 days to appeal (this had obviously long passed). The reason given was I wouldn’t reasonably expect to be earning enough. I phoned them, and they reinstated the 30 hours. I again explained I pay myself once year a single amount. My childcare provider has mentioned nothing, and they advised me not to rock the boat with them.

I have just reapplied. I received a letter asking me to call them as they can’t get hold of me (no missed calls!). The chap I spoke said I am not eligible if I don’t pay myself again as I am required to receive at least quarterly pay to be eligible. This is the first I have heard of this requirement. If someone had mentioned this previously it would have been simple for me to do. They are refusing to reinstate the 30 hours and have sent me a communication to that affect.

I called my accountant who said I can adjust my pay to quarterly or whatever. This however will be a pain to do and I feel an unnecessary burden. I will still earn the same amount over the year and I run the risk of upsetting HMRC by altering payment records (and a possible accountant bill). I called them back and they reconfirmed the at least quarterly pay requirement and now I need to write a letter in to appeal.

Are they correct about quarterly pay? If so shouldn’t they have advised me of this the in Jan and July? Who do I complain to? The chap told me to log in and follow the complain link but I cannot find one.

unforeseen

Tax Free Childcare works on a quarterly cycle with reconfirmation every three months and always has done

This means that each quarter you have to be able to show that you have been paid, not will be paid, the required amount within that period. A single annual pay statement doesn't cut the mustard

anticlaus105

It would have been nice if they had mentioned this previously, when I told them about my annual pay on two different occasions. I get the 3 month reconfirmation idea but surely earnings averaged out over the year should be fine.

Either way I have amended my payroll records, I just need to check with my accountant that submitting them won't cause any issues (or fines). Then I need to write them a letter. Then I need to submit a complaint.