how long does it take (child care payment)

fkelanne

ive just put my son in child care, i phoned the tax creds up on monday and give them their name, address, and ref number. And they said i should have it for nxt week! does any1 no how long it will take?also they asked me how mush a week is was, which i said £56 for 4 days but some weeks i dont need him in for 4 days it depends on my shifts do i have to keep phonen them every week? if it isnt 4 days it is going to be 3 days ill need him in 4 def.

[Deleted User]

As long as most weeks it is £56 p/w it is fine, if it is a regular arrangement that it is only 3 days he is in then you need to work out the avergae of what it is going to cost and inform TCO.
The way you are supposed to calculate the childcare costs is to add up all the costs you will use over a year and divide by 52.

For example - it may cost you £50 per week during term time and £150 during holidays.

To calculate this you need to know how many weeks holiday there are from school (ask the school if unsure).

If there were 13 weeks holiday that would leave 39 weeks term time:
13 weeks x £150 = £1950
39 weeks x £ 50 = £1950
52 weeks = £3900

1 week = 52weeks/52 = £75 p/w average.

It means that some weeks you will pay more for your costs but other weeks you will be getting more - but over the year (which is how your tax credits are calculated) it works out.

mummytofour

Personally I would claim for 4 days there is I believe a 4 week rule so if the situation were that for 4 weeks in a ROW less or more childcare was required, then would be the time to inform them.

[Deleted User]

If it is usually for 4 days then yes claim for 4.
Yes there is a rule where it can change for up to four weeks and you dont need to inform the TCO. So the odd week where it is only 3 days you dont need to worry.

fkelanne

thanks alol, god it confusing.