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Angry another attack on sahm mum!

363 replies

mam29 · 18/03/2013 20:23

I was worried about new childcare arrangements and its got high limit earn up to 150k but both parents have to be working.

Im guessing from this article the current childcare voucher scheme being phased out

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21833929

where exactly are these term time jobs and cheap flexible childcare.

where are all these jobs that dont seem to require person to be fully flexible.

had 1st in 2006 went back full time when she was one in 2007.
fulltime place 52weeks nursery was 9000 a year you can claim relief up to 6k.

used vouchers

quit work after no 2 used vouchers for preschool education who had reduced to 1day a week doing nursery.

child no 2 started 1day a week from 18months and nursery been really good for her development. its £40 a day so 160 on 4week month.

husband used couchers as he works fulltime saves us a little.

child 2 now gets 15hour funding which helps.

was hoping to start child no 3 and use childcare vouchers now looks like cant do that and might have to wait until fnding term after 3rd birthday which think is bit late.

To make matters worse child no 2 has september birthday so missed this sept school year by 16days so have year extra paying childcare.

we lucky we dident lose child benefit as at moment we below 50k
we lost £10 a week childcare tax credits last april.

feel sorry for sahm mum whos husnand earns over 50k loses cb and now childcare vouchers yet they say preschool education is important and good for educational outcomes.

we very much feeling squeezed middle tonight as we just about get by each month as we privatly rent too.

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INeedThatForkOff · 18/03/2013 20:28

Well you don't actually need childcare do you? And yes preschool is important, hence the 15 hours entitlement. Until then, what's wrong with children's centres and toddler groups?

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MamaBear17 · 18/03/2013 20:32

I am a working mum and I feel that we will be worse off under the new scheme too. The vouchers actually make childcare affordable. I am the primary earner so no chance of me being a SAHM as we couldn't afford to live on hubby's salary alone. We have already worked out that we need to wait until DD is at school before we have another DC as we can not afford to have two children at nursery at the same time. Gutted that these changes might make nursery even more expensive.

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mam29 · 18/03/2013 20:54

Thanks mama bear.

I done both.

was hoping to go down self employed route this year that wasent covered by vouchers but hubby taking them out as he was unemployed would have helped me get business off the ground.

We have no family nearby to help so no free childcare.

Another huge concern for me if I was working parent.

is holiday clubs and after clubs anywhere ofsted registered could take childcare vouchers not sure if thats not the case the no tax relief on kids age 5+ so if you had one in nursery, 1 in school and no magic term time job.

Husband works 50+hours as retail manager so so works weekends, bank holidays and shifts vary if he has to go away, last min meeting so harder to find job that fits in around that and ensure 3kids are well looked after.

I also do voluntary work in community im on preschool committee, Pta and a breastfeeding peer supporter at local clinic -ie the who big soceity yet feel undervalued they keep saying ake work pay we recieve no state benefits other than child benefit and childcare vouhchers which may I ad have already been devalued for high rate tax payers couple years ago and reduced.
payers.

They brought in grants for deprived 2year olds and say preschool education is important.

I chose to start my 3year old in september hen she was 3 and paid nearly £500 fees for term 1 and 2 and she got funding finally in jan 15hours which funds 3sessions at preschool and 2sessions at day nursery which she adores as been there since 18months,
She cant start school until september next year when she be 5 her older sister started at 4.5 and her younger brother bit younger when he starts.

Hes april so wont get funding until september 2014 he starts school september 2015.

If I use a nursery which is near me and better suited to him theres a shortfall as grant funding is 38weeks a year and nursery contracts are 51weeks a year so anyone who uses nursery has shortfall anyway.

seems weird someone on 50k 1parent working loses child benefit
2parents on 48k get to keep and now get this new £6000 to help with their childcare costs so urge 2parents to get jobs at 49k each then they be fine!

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Tincletoes · 18/03/2013 20:58

Errrr... But the 2 parents working NEED childcare but you don't?

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ceeveebee · 18/03/2013 21:02

Tbh if one parent stays at home, why should the taxpayer fund childcare? It's a bit of a luxury paying for nursery when you don't work, so not something that that taxpayer should find IMO. The vouchers didn't really save you that much in the scheme of things really, and if you can't afford it without tax beaks then just cut down on the hours or something.

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ceeveebee · 18/03/2013 21:03

Find = fund, and beaks = breaks

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kinkyfuckery · 18/03/2013 21:03

If you're not working, why do you need childcare?

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maddening · 18/03/2013 21:03

but why does a sahm require childcare?

also - surely this is better for you being self employed as you couldn't get childcare vouchers - with this change you both need to be working to claim back up to 20% of £6000 - so up to £1200 so doesn't that make you eligible whilst going down the self employed route?

as for threshholds - there will always be someone losing out comparatively wherever you set them I guess.

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maddening · 18/03/2013 21:04

but why does a sahm require childcare?

also - surely this is better for you being self employed as you couldn't get childcare vouchers - with this change you both need to be working to claim back up to 20% of £6000 - so up to £1200 so doesn't that make you eligible whilst going down the self employed route?

as for threshholds - there will always be someone losing out comparatively wherever you set them I guess.

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CloudsAndTrees · 18/03/2013 21:05

How is it an attack on SAHMs? Confused

SAHMs don't need childcare.

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MrsLyman · 18/03/2013 21:06

The voucher scheme was only open to those whose employers signed up to the scheme, if your employer doesn't join or your self-employed you get no help at all. DH and I both work out of the home but neither of us can get vouchers, but because the new scheme is more inclusive we'll actually get some help with our necessary childcare. Forgive me for not feeling a great deal of sympathy for you.

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Roseformeplease · 18/03/2013 21:06

Why should you get them if you can afford not to work? Surely you are the childcare?

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EasilyBored · 18/03/2013 21:10

Isn't the whole point of being a SAHM that you don't need childcare?

Am confused?

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pointythings · 18/03/2013 21:13

I also don't understand why a SAHM would need childcare, and would much rather the money was spent on two-parent working families, especially those on low incomes.

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HollyBerryBush · 18/03/2013 21:13

I just get pissed off I never had any vouchers, tax relief, baby bonds, or any of that shit - I paid for my own children, thank you

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LynetteScavo · 18/03/2013 21:16

Does this mean a family where one parent earns over £50K will no longer get a funded 15 hours at pre-school for their three year old? Confused I'm presuming not.

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OhdearIquit · 18/03/2013 21:18

SAHM don't need childcare so it's not an attack on them.

If you're a SAHM and want your child to socialize, do what other SAHMs do and go to coffee mornings and play groups. Then from 3, use the 15 free hours of nursery! Simple!

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25catsnameSam · 18/03/2013 21:18

The vouchers are there to support working parents. Changing the system yo further benefit this group makes sense- it's not an attack on SAHM. IMO you have been very lucky to have the benefit of these vouchers for so long, your voluntary work is laudable but you really shouldn't expect a tax break because of it, that isn't how the system works!

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lljkk · 18/03/2013 21:20

Mam29 says she wants to start own business, so she needs childcare to get that off the ground. But then she wouldn't exactly be a SAHM any more, I know, I know. Confused

We have never had an employer who offered vouchers, so was always a minority thing, anyway.

No system would ever be completely fair.

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mam29 · 18/03/2013 21:23

As mama bears said they have been useful and looking at figures seems like cut on what they getting now.

as currently £55 a week.
says savings under new scheme £1200 a year.

I need to read more into detail.

I used them when i worked through 2 separate employers.
husbands also used them for 2separate employers.

so lots of people do use them

There was big petition and anger when gordon brown talked about scrapping them.

Its good the self employed now included.

150k seems huge liit when you consider the cliff for child benefit is 50k.

Theres more in the detail and from what I see those at the bottom already supported by tax credits , housing benefit and other stuff low earners can get.

If I take me out equation can the new scheme be used for holiday clubs for working parents?

I can get by and afford it as value preschool education and can see benefits its has its not about me having a break, palming them off its about their development and socialising.

We can afford to support own kids and do thanks benefits never really entered our head when planning our family but with everything going up and never for saw back in 2006 the end to universil benefits.

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WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 18/03/2013 21:25

I don't think you are going to get a lot of sympathy.

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mam29 · 18/03/2013 21:27

Lynette scarvo- no preschool grant still 15hours term after 3rd birthday,

some low incomes can get term after 2nd birthday not sure what criteria it is on 2s grant.

I appreciate im lucky my husband works hard long hours some days he dont see the kids.

We chose to use nursery as saw benefits it had with eldest when I did work fulltime for practically nothing.
Now we have 3 with 2 under school age its just too pricey for me to work fulltime so made decision being lower earner to sahm and also make myself slightly useful in the community.

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ceeveebee · 18/03/2013 21:29

Where is your current figure of £55 per week coming from? You only save tax and NI on £243 per month so even if higher rate that's about £28 per week not £55 per week

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mam29 · 18/03/2013 21:30

Im not after sympathy we all in this together.

The pensioners not getting any cuts.

just seems lot of child related cuts.
im unsure how many people use this scheme 1parent
and from 1st sight cant see whole detail looks like working parents be worse off if saves less and more restrictive on where can be used.

Maybe should have titled post differently.

lots of other news today probably thinking people wont notice.
Think will be on news night tonight so will watch with interest.

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sleepdodger · 18/03/2013 21:30

I'm a higher tax payer working ft and having just lost cb now loose relief on vouchers
The gov make it really hard to keep working
Whilst I earn well job is v full on and stressfull, the more the child care costs the less I bring home and the less I can justify working
If I pack it in ironically we'd be entities to tax credits towards child care and cb again.... Gov would lose my tax contribution and have to pay more
I know we're still in better position than many but we're not rich and I'm fed up of being the go to middle option for funding the governments next woo idea
As a side note the fuel costs which are obscene and rising again makes work less attractive
As someone with a sound work ethic and over a decade in my career at a level I'm disappointed and disillusioned at how I'm being treated
Tax me yes absolutely but please stop messing with the rest it makes planning a life Confused

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