Talk

Flip

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

New LP, help with WTC & CTC

3 replies

deepbluewave · 18/03/2013 07:39

Hello all.

Im a new LP of a DS- 21 months. I work 30 hours a week, 4 days a week. Between my STBEX, we pay £80 a week childcare for 2 days and my folks have my DS the other 2 days. I pay £100 of childcare vouchers and he pays the rest-
Ive recently applied for the above benefits and Ive been paid a weekly amount of CTC £125 a week, but no WTC.
My questions are--- (thanks for looking and taking time for me)
Does this seem correct?
How long do you get CTC for? (Is it up until my DS is 3 or 16?)
Is is better if I pay ALL the child care and get CSA? Because my STBEXH says he will contiue paying what he does for Child care, but not CS, until my son gets free care. A friend said it may be better if I pay all the childcare and then get him to pay CS. He said he only has to pay £40 a week, but as he is a teacher, he will put aside £250, (pretty much what he pays in childcare vocuhers) as he see's that as a fair amount for DS. Whether he will or not is another story.

Hope this makes sense.

OOO also....They asked for my earning 2011-2012- I was on MAT leave then, so will it go down next year???

Thanks guys.

OP posts:

Report

Meglet · 18/03/2013 21:44

AFAIK child tax credit continues until they're 16. I still get it for my dc's and they're 6 and 4.

I believe the CSA calculate maintenance for one child as 15% of the non-resident parents wage.

With regards to your maternity leave last year I think they will use that as their starting point, but as long as you let them know how much you are earning now they can adjsut the figures so you shouldn't end up in a mess. I've not had any problems with tax credits (or the CSA) I have a spreadsheet and call them as soon as there are changes and make a note of the call.

HTH or at least bumps it for someone who can!

Report

IneedAgoldenNickname · 18/03/2013 22:07

I think ctc continue until 16 or 19 if the child is in full time education.

the rate of csa he would have to pay, depends on how much he earns. Assuming it's more than £200 per week, it will be 15%. https://www.gov.uk/how-child-maintenance-is-worked-out/rates-used-by-the-child-support-agency other rates are explained here