working nights and child care

clitb

i work 2 nights friday and saturday can i still claim for child care all week my partner averages 16 hours a week some weeks more some weeks less. sorry bout second post. first looked abit confusing

caleo

So you are at home during the week? Help with childcare is supposed to be for while parents are working. I could understand claiming for childcare on a friday if you worked Thursday night, but if you are at home during the week, you have no need for childcare.

Unless I have misunderstood?

clitb

no you understood right thats what i thought anyway. Think i best stop claiming it them:o thanks for your help.

lil_me

caleo wrote: »

So you are at home during the week? Help with childcare is supposed to be for while parents are working. I could understand claiming for childcare on a friday if you worked Thursday night, but if you are at home during the week, you have no need for childcare.

Unless I have misunderstood?

Childcare is to help parents who are working, if the OP needs to sleep then the childcare could be used then. If you pay childcare costs and are entitled to support with the costs, then claim it. It's up to you how you use it. My friend works nights for Royal Mail and uses the childcare during the day so she can actually get some sleep in between shifts. CTC child care payments aren't just for those who 'work during the week'.

caleo

lil_me wrote: »

Childcare is to help parents who are working, if the OP needs to sleep then the childcare could be used then. If you pay childcare costs and are entitled to support with the costs, then claim it. It's up to you how you use it. My friend works nights for Royal Mail and uses the childcare during the day so she can actually get some sleep in between shifts. CTC child care payments aren't just for those who 'work during the week'.

I did not say that CTC childcare is not for when you sleep.

The OP only works friday/sat night, so is home all week and does not NEED childcare in the week. I work 3 days a week and pay childcare 3 days. I used to work 2 nights during the week, and had 2 days childcare so I could sleep.

I do not expect CTC child care to help me pay childcare fees when I am not working/sleeping!

lil_me

caleo wrote: »

I did not say that CTC childcare is not for when you sleep.

The OP only works friday/sat night, so is home all week and does not NEED childcare in the week. I work 3 days a week and pay childcare 3 days. I used to work 2 nights during the week, and had 2 days childcare so I could sleep.

I do not expect CTC child care to help me pay childcare fees when I am not working/sleeping!

You can use it for whenever you like, I know parents who have their child in an additional day when they are not at work to give them time for themselves, some who still put the child into childcare when they are on holiday so can do DIY etc, teachers who do so so they can work on marking.

If you pay the costs, are entitled to help with the costs, then why not claim? I am sure most other people do. They don't ask when you apply 'Do you have chilcare costs for when you are at work?' they just ask 'Do you pay childcare costs?'

caleo

lil_me wrote: »

You can use it for whenever you like, I know parents who have their child in an additional day when they are not at work to give them time for themselves, some who still put the child into childcare when they are on holiday so can do DIY etc, teachers who do so so they can work on marking.

If you pay the costs, are entitled to help with the costs, then why not claim? I am sure most other people do. They don't ask when you apply 'Do you have chilcare costs for when you are at work?' they just ask 'Do you pay childcare costs?'

I have to disagree, I do not expect the CTC to help me pay for childcare in order for me to decorate/study/shop etc in peace! I had my children and look after them when I am not at work, and if I did use childcare during this time, it is wrong to expect tax payers to subsidise!!! The childcare help is there to help people to WORK, not so that parents can have a social life!

There are lots of couple where only one person works.....if they want their child to go into childcare they do not get any help!

There are serious problems with the CTC system, and it does not help when people claim for the wrong reasons! Maybe they need to reword the question.

lil_me

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it but as far as I am aware there is no legislation stopping parents claiming childcare costs and using it to be provided as and when they need it. If someone who works nights has to pay a sitter to look after their children who isn't a registered care provider, why shouldn't they have what childcare they can during the week. The costs claimed are for any childcare costs, they don't need to be for when the person is at work.

I don't claim any childcare costs at all, I could as my partner works and I don't but IB entitles me to do so and I could use it for childcare when he's at work if I prefered to, but like I said I am not saying I agree/disagree but if someone is entitled they should claim it because nearly everyone else who can, is. Not everyone has the luxury of working during the day when conventional childcare is available, there is no difference using it to catch up on what you need to do rather than when you are at work or asleep.

You can have your own opinion as to if it should be claimed or not, I could state for example that I think everyone should pay their own childcare costs out of their wages rather than from tax credits but this would be just my opinion. What you shouldn't do is advise on entitlement based on personal opinion.

elisebutt65

caleo wrote: »

I have to disagree, I do not expect the CTC to help me pay for childcare in order for me to decorate/study/shop etc in peace! I had my children and look after them when I am not at work, and if I did use childcare during this time, it is wrong to expect tax payers to subsidise!!! The childcare help is there to help people to WORK, not so that parents can have a social life!

There are lots of couple where only one person works.....if they want their child to go into childcare they do not get any help!

There are serious problems with the CTC system, and it does not help when people claim for the wrong reasons! Maybe they need to reword the question.

This is just your opinion though - If the op needs help with childcare then yes she can claim for it, which is what she asked!

caleo

elisebutt65 wrote: »

This is just your opinion though - If the op needs help with childcare then yes she can claim for it, which is what she asked!

Yes it is my opinion, and I never said it wasn't!

I just don't see why tax payers should be paying my childcare when I don't need it! I work 3 days a week, so need 3 days childcare, if I want childcare for days when I don't need it, I most certainly would not expect it to be subsidised!

Lets hope that HMRC pick on this soon, and prevent further unecessary drain from taxpayers money, which is not a bottomless pit. The goverment provides free nursery places for children aged 3 and over for a few hours a day. IT IS MY OPINION that childcare tax credits are to help parents with necessary childcare costs in order to help them work. Unfortunately it would appear that the system is open to misuse.

babyt_2

The government gives children over three some free sessions in child care so why shouldn't people with children under 3 have similar help. Aslong as the childs in "child care" then why shouldnt people be able to claim. I used to claim for my son because i work four nights a week, not only because i needed some sleep but being in a child care setting is shown to be good for a child. So why not claim child care costs, especially as those that do, work and pay taxes!