working nights and child care

caleo

lil_me wrote: »

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.

The OP did not say she had to use childcare when she was working/sleeping.

As for there being no difference to using it to catch up on what you need to do rather than when at work or sleep, what on earth are those "fortunate" people who work when there is conventional childcare available? Work Mon-Fri 9-5, have your children in childcare Mon to Fri, and then do your shopping, haircuts, housework over the weekend while trying to fit in fun time with your children! Why should someone claim for childcare costs when they are not required?


Maybe they need to clarify it further....have lots of children, work 16 hours a week, and put your children in day care 5 days a week, and carry on with your life like you never had them! Yes, don't worry, the tax payers will pay for your costs, you just make sure that you have plenty of time to have fun.

IB is totally different, because there may be other reasons why childcare is needed when partners are at work.

caleo

babyt wrote: »

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!

Claiming childcare so you can sleep after night shifts is what CTC is all about.

So, because it is shown to be good for a child to be in childcare (I might add that it has also been shown that is it good for a child to actually spend time with their parents), the taxpayer should subsidise this even when not necessary. There is a reason why free childcare places are only available for children aged 3 and over- MONEY! There is not enough money to go around. There might be a little more in the pot if people used childcare help as it was supposed to be used - to help people with childcare costs when they are working.

If I was able to work 2 days a week, I would still be a taxpayer, yet would have to meet my own childcare costs. A parent chooses to stay at home with their children, and so you are saying that they are putting their child at a disadvantage because they can't afford to pay for childcare, and can't claim help with any unecessary childcare costs, so why should people (who do not need it because they are not working) claim for their own social time?

mitchaa

lil_me wrote: »

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.

Why would you be eligible for childcare when you are a stay at home mum? That is plain wrong no matter what way you look at it.

Also, what's to stop you saying your child is in childcare and claiming the costs when secretly he/she is at home with you and you're profitting all the childcare money?

The whole benefits system is open to so much abuse, its unreal. I was just reading about a heroin addict in Aberdeen claiming CTC for 36 children:eek: It was as simple as phoning up and saying you had another child, no checks, no birth certificates required, Unbelievable:rolleyes:

lil_me

Because I receive incapacity benefit (which is classed as income for tax credits) and therefore entitled to childcare if I wished to claim, fortunately I have a supportive network of friends and family etc who assist with the boys when required and my partner works nights so he is there to help until they have gone to bed most days (usually 1 day he's not). If you think about it it makes sense because if someone is fully capable of providing care for their own children 24/7 who is receiving IB then they would be 'fit for work' as a childcare provider.

What stops people claiming childcare costs when the child isn't in chilcare is they do check with the childcare provider who must be registered.

DaisyFlower

OP, why would you want to claim childcare help all week if you dont work? Surely you would want to spend time with your child/chilrdren?

Most people who work would love a job where the child/children were at home with one parent all week bar a few hours possible cross over on a Friday.

Sorry, there is a definate difference of needing help with childcare costs to work and using childcare because you dont want to look after your own children in the day.

fi_trix29

Ok, there's a lot of opinion floating around here which wasn't what the op asked for. The OP wanted to know if she was breaking the law for claiming childcare when she wasn't working, not if you all thought it was morally wrong for her to do so.

As far as tax credits are concerned, as long as all claimants are either working or incapacitated for childcare purposes then they can claim help with childcare costs. TC do not want to know when the childcare is for, what days you work, how many hours a week the childcare is for or any other such details, all we need to know is the weekly cost of the childcare.

Hope that clears things up clitb

astonsmummy

Yes you can claim.
I am having to put my son back into 5 day a week day care for my new job as i'll be working nights but these nights differ each week and I cant chop and change the days with the nursery.
It's only until september when he starts school.

Auzelia

I work part time and my son will be going to nursery in august and it wont just be days that I work, he is also going in days that I have off as I plan to go to college soon and I had to take the days that where available to me.

If that makes me a drain on the Government then so be it, but I know that in the future the Government will be hammering me for tax and N.I just like it does at the moment.

And yes! once I go to college I will look for another part time job so that I can continue to get some of my fees paid!!!

mitchaa

fi_trix29 wrote: »

Ok, there's a lot of opinion floating around here which wasn't what the op asked for. The OP wanted to know if she was breaking the law for claiming childcare when she wasn't working, not if you all thought it was morally wrong for her to do so.

As far as tax credits are concerned, as long as all claimants are either working or incapacitated for childcare purposes then they can claim help with childcare costs. TC do not want to know when the childcare is for, what days you work, how many hours a week the childcare is for or any other such details, all we need to know is the weekly cost of the childcare.

Hope that clears things up clitb

She'll be breaking the law if she claims childcare and looks after the child herself. (I assume she will do seeing as she doesn't work all week:rolleyes: )

Its easy to register, take your child there 1 day in order to satisfy tax credits and then not go back again and profit all the childcare money.

Childcare is only supposed to cover 80% of the costs, meaning the 20% extra is covered by the parents own purse. Why would the O.P waste this 20% when she is at home all day and quite capable of looking after her own child? Doesn't make sense to me.

sjaypink

i dont think it is breaking the law? you can claim child care = to the amount of hours you work; doesnt have to be the exact same hours......
thought cctc paid direct to childcare so there is no chance for anyone to 'profit'?

think all this has now scared off the op anyhow which is a shame as she seemed genuinely unsure of the system and may have wanted more advice.........