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Child care grant - am I missing something?

8 replies

HeyBungalowBill · 23/07/2014 10:22

As a student parent I can apply for a child care grant which means something around 90% of my child care costs will be paid but I would have to stop claiming child tax credits.
This seems to work out as a brilliant deal for those putting a child in nursery Monday to Friday but as I'm only putting DS in nursery two days I don't think it's worth applying for.
My child tax credit is about £75 per week and the nursery cost is about £80 per week.
So am I right in thinking there's no point getting the child care grant?

Am I right? Am I missing something?

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Nightwish · 23/07/2014 14:45

You will still get normal child tax credits but not the element for childcare as this is superseded by the childcare grant which is 85% of your childcare dependent on income.
Is the £75 your normal child tax credits or the specific part for childcare?

I would definitely apply for the childcare grant whichever way as it is a higher percentage than the tax credits version.

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HeyBungalowBill · 23/07/2014 19:12

I'm sorry I'm confused!
I hope this helps:
I currently receive £75 per week normal child tax credits.
If I applied for the child care grant the child care may cost £80 and I'd have to pay 15% of that so it works out pretty much the same as the £75 I already receive?

As far as I know the child care grant means you can't claim for normal child tax credits? Or is it on top of that?

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HeyBungalowBill · 23/07/2014 20:31

I think I have completely misunderstood!!
It says you can't claim the child care element of working tax credit, is this completely different to child tax credit?

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crazykat · 23/07/2014 20:45

Child tax credits are separate to the childcare element afaik. I get child tax credits but not the childcare element as I don't use paid childcare. If I was to use paid child care then I could apply for the childcare element on top of child tax credits.

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Nightwish · 23/07/2014 20:46

Yes it is a separate part which you have to apply for if you have childcare costs.
So you will continue to get your £75 a week normal child tax credits and should get the 85% childcare grant so they will give you a grant for £68 of your childcare and you will have to pay the extra £12. Dependent on your income of course.

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crazykat · 23/07/2014 20:47

In your case you'd still claim child tax credits and also the child care grant, instead of claiming child tax credits and the childcare element of tax credits.

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HeyBungalowBill · 23/07/2014 21:00

I've been so slack!
I assumed that meant my child tax credits would stop.
Thank you all for your replies, I'm very pleased about this as I was worried about affording university and this is one less worry Smile

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cricketballs · 25/07/2014 08:46

Just a word of warning op; you may find that you will need more childcare than you are anticipating (time in library, essay writing etc). I wouldn't have been able to complete all the work I needed to if I only used childcare for lectures/tutorials

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