Finish line in sight....but I'm running out of petrol....

Snaggles

Thanks Bob - my plan of action is to write a letter to the school expressing my surprise that they took the decision (against the advice of the CAMHS report) to not apply for funding for inclusion for Ryan because 'he doesn't need it', and saying that I am concerned that we were not consulted about this decision, despite being told at a meeting earlier in the year that they would definitely be applying (and in fact being encouraged by the headmaster to push for a diagnosis specifically so that they COULD get some funding for him). I will also advise them of my intention to request that Ryan be assessed for a statement, and would ideally like them onside in this process, but ultimately will proceed with or without their involvement (will say it in as nice a way as possibly obviously ).

On a completely different subject, hubby is requesting pizza for dinner, which will blow my diet AND our budget....grrrrrr! :rotfl:

It IS Friday though! :cool:

System

Thanks Gem. Our total childcare bill for a normal month is £408 and I claim the maximum amount of £243. Will wait and see I will let you know how it goes.

Gemmzie

Snaggles wrote: »

Is that right Gemmzie? I thought you could, but you might end up slightly worse off by doing both depending on your circumstances? I suppose it would depend on whether the whole amount of the childcare was covered by the vouchers maybe?

Yup. You might be worse off doing one or the other depending on your circumstances but you are never allowed both. It's in the guidance notes

Snaggles

Morning!

I really need to get organised this morning - I need to ring the tax credits people (again) because I've just realised I gave them the figure from last years P11d not this years....gahh, that means another huge pile of paperwork from them....:doh:

Then I need to ring 3 mobile and tell them that my new phone is rubbish because the battery lasts about an hour (seriously) and it also freezes every time I try to play any music/video on it - hopefully they will replace it without a fuss.

I also need to prepare for a meeting with Ryan's headmaster tomorrow - I am going in to discuss Ryan being assessed for a statement, and also a few other issues, such as the decision that was taken not to apply for funding for Ryan because 'he doesn't need it' :mad:.

What I am intending to do is:

1) Get Ryan's DLA claim form finished and sent it (I'm just waiting for one more report to send in with it)

2) Wait for the Stars team to complete there involvement and prepare their final report and recommendations

3) Once I have the Stars report and a decision on the DLA, then apply for the statement assessment.

So what I want from the school at this stage is basically for them to be aware that I am going to do this, and start gathering any necessary evidence that may help Ryan's case (I've no idea if this is the right thing to do or not - if anyone has done this, please shout if I should be doing anything else). Even if Ryan doesn't get a statement, the evidence the school collects will help for their application for Funding For Inclusion for Ryan.

I am also wanting to suss out whether the school will be onside with the statement request, or whether we will have to go over their heads.

I have been given the contact details for someone who has helped lots of families through this process, and have been told (by the Stars team) that there are many many kids with less severe issues than Ryan, who have statements and receive funding, so I am prepared to fight for this.

Wish me luck... _pale_

evab_2

HI, don't normally post on here but thought I'd say hello.

R.e. tax credits and childcare vouchers, they normally take off the £243 from what you would pay and this is the figure that they would use for the tax credits. I still found that I was much better off getting the childcare vouchers and the reduced tax credits.

Hope all is well Snaggles, have been popping in on your diary continuously.

Best wishes Ev

Snaggles

hi Eva, funnily enough I've just posted a message to you on IA's thread (bit of a hijack but I hadn't seen you around for ages).

Hope all is well with you, and thanks for popping in - that was my understanding of the tax credits thing as well, that you could claim tax credits for the portion of the childcare you are paying for yourself, but that it might actually make you worse off.

I find the whole thing so confusing though - my SIL refuses to claim it even though she's skint, because she just can't get her head around it all. I can't say I blame her really, and I wonder how many other low income families are put off for the same reason? Saying that though, I've no idea what the solution is... :rotfl:

Snaggles

Good evenink

Eeek, I had a meeting with Ryan's headmaster today, and feel like I have made some progress and sorted some things out. I hope it will now mean the school involve us more in decisions that affect Ryan and I came out with a lot more confidence in the school.

I was really proud of the fact that I didn't get upset, flustered or tearful. :j

Moneywise, it has been quite a good day - haven't spent anything at all, stuck to the meal plan, and earned £2 on surveys (woo...:)).

Stu might be offered a permanent route at work (he's currently a spare driver, so never knows where he will be delivering from one day to the next), which would give him about 7 hours overtime a week, which would be fab. But on the one day a week that I do an evening shift, he wouldn't get home in time to look after the kids, so I'm not sure what to do. I can't change my hours, and I can't think of anyone who would watch them. Hmmmmm.......

System

Hi Mrs S, just checkng in. Glad to see all areas are looking up. Len x

Snaggles

Oh dear god, I've just had a tax credit payment of £670! :eek: :rotfl:

Still no paperwork though, so I still have no idea what's going on. In the meantime, I will pay it off the loan.

Oh dear, I sound like I'm annoyed at receiving £670 don't I - it's only because I'm pretty sure I will have to pay it all back.

Snaggles

Okay, loan payment made, taking new figure to....

*drum roll* (where's Toto when you need her )

£3679.51!!! :j :j :j



(if anyone is wondering why I don't seem to be paying any interest, it's because it's linked to my mortgage, so my mortgage payment includes interest and capital for the main mortgage, and interest for the loan)