Tax Credits

Tuckerpoor

My partner gives birth in 6 weeks

My partner earns £14500 gross
I earn £1800 gross

We live together with mortgage

We rang tax credits and they sent us forms, however were very rude saying she shoud not give up work, very rude and none of there busines to comment in my opinion

We would like to know what we would get in tax credits if we both continued working full time.? also if she went part time 16 hours a week and what we would get if she gave up work?

Child care would cost £130 per week if we both continued to work.

We do not yet know if her employer would allow her to work for 16 hours as we not asked due to wanting full maternity pay, but if she could do this we most likey could manage with out child care then.

We currently get no benefits.

If she gave up work, she is concerned that she would find it nearly imposible to get a full time job again due to her been diagnosed with MS 2 years ago, how ever the condition is not bad enough to give up work yet or to recieve any benefits because of it. So her thinking is that if she gives up work now its permanant.

We have been unable to get an apointment with CIB as they busy but now she on maturnity we hoping to go in on drop in day.

We are looking forward to our baby arriveing!

Any advice welcome

DaisyFlower

If you earn £1800 gross then you cant work many hours, so can you increase your hours to enable your wife to cut down on hers especially if she has a medical condition.

Whilst tax credits shouldnt have made comment, I do see their point - if you only earn £1800 and your wife gives up work who's going to pay the rent/mortgage, bills food etc. You wouldnt get WTC only CTC.

Surely you would want to provide for your own child rather than the attitude of "what would we get".

mitchaa

I would imagine the O.P has made a typo error and means £18,000

If so, you wont get much help with a joint income of £32500. Basic family element of £545pa child tax credits and you may get some childcare costs back through tax credits but it would be very little and probably not worth it.

Tuckerpoor

Sorry i mean £18,000. Well I would like to work more hours but Royal Mail are bringing in flexibilty this month as it happens, I wont ever earn exstra money! even if I work more hours.

I am currently looking for a part time job to co-incide with royal mail (supposidly flexible hours) even though I never know what hours I'm working from day to day.

AS for my partner she is starting to struggle with full time, however midwife told her not to discuss working part time with employer untill she had all her maternity pay. As i think this is what she would like to do, but I guess that is down to the employer.

And frankly if £545 is the only contribution made, i think she will do her best to go part time to avoid child car costs.

We have had no success at CIB, she went today and after 3 hours waiting in line on drop in day she needed to go back to car as ticket ran out, so she has seen no one. Guess we lucky we can get advice from here!

What is CTC?

DaisyFlower

On your joint salary, you'll qualify for basic CTC of £42 a month (£50 extra a month until the baby reaches age on) and FA or around £19 a month.

Requesting part time hours wont affect her maternity pay but it is best to wait until after having the baby to see hows best to proceed. If she wishes to ask for part time work, then their is a form to request flexible working but its only the right to request it and not the automatic right to have it granted. You may also need to see if she gets over the standard SMP if you have to repay any if you dont return to work.

On the joint salary at the moment, you're over the threashold for help with childcare costs but your employers may do the voucher scheme.

mitchaa

Tuckerpoor wrote: »

Sorry i mean £18,000. Well I would like to work more hours but Royal Mail are bringing in flexibilty this month as it happens, I wont ever earn exstra money! even if I work more hours.

I am currently looking for a part time job to co-incide with royal mail (supposidly flexible hours) even though I never know what hours I'm working from day to day.

AS for my partner she is starting to struggle with full time, however midwife told her not to discuss working part time with employer untill she had all her maternity pay. As i think this is what she would like to do, but I guess that is down to the employer.

And frankly if £545 is the only contribution made, i think she will do her best to go part time to avoid child car costs.

We have had no success at CIB, she went today and after 3 hours waiting in line on drop in day she needed to go back to car as ticket ran out, so she has seen no one. Guess we lucky we can get advice from here!

What is CTC?

CTC = Child tax credits

You will, because of your salaries get £545 per year (£10.48pw) However up until your childs 1st birthday you will receive an additional £545 per year

You will also get CB of £18.80pw (Child benefit, used to be called family allowance)

So in your childs 1st year you will get £545+£545 + £977.60 CB (£18.80x52)

So £2067.60pa or £172.30pm

It drops to the basic £545 after childs 1st birthday.

Tuckerpoor

Thanks for info so far, don't understand why they can't just give this information on the phone! or is it just our luck of the draw who we speak to?