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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not understand the tax credit system

13 replies

thinkofthemoney · 29/07/2013 21:56

I am posting here for more traffic and I have a headache trying to work it out!
Can I ask what people do about tax credits and school holidays? I need to use holiday club for my 2 dc for the first time this year. I only need 2 weeks of the 6 weeks as I have covered the rest with leave. It will cost a lot more than my normal childcare costs.
However, the tax credits people say I can't claim as it is only for 2 weeks and any changes must be for 4 weeks or more. I am really going to struggle to pay the costs and had I known then I would have spread the leave and used the same number of holiday club days over 4 weeks.
I am going to be in the same situation for most half terms and Easter as they are obviously less that 4 weeks duration.
I asked if I could estimate the years total cost of childcare and average it out and was told no , they need to know when things change by ten pounds or more at the time it happens.
What do others do? I surely can't be the only one in this situation? It's a very complex system!

OP posts:

FedupofTurkey · 29/07/2013 22:01

You need to average out your costs over the year - so total up all your childcare you can claim for then divide by 52 and thats what you tell them it is

gobbledegook1 · 29/07/2013 22:08

OMG!! I didn't know you couldn't claim for half term holidays its a good job I have family to cover half terms for me once my son starts school in September. I can't even afford to cover the two weekend days I work with their help so I can totally sympathise, this whole it'll pay to work thing this government keep spouting is a load of rubbish because it really doesn't. I can totally sympathise and I will be keen to hear what others have to say on how they manage.

gobbledegook1 · 29/07/2013 22:10

But Fedupof Turkey she's just stated that she's been told you aren't allowed to do that.

Original poster

thinkofthemoney · 29/07/2013 22:10

Fedupofturkey- they were very clear that I couldn't do that. They said if your costs alter by more than 10 pounds a week (as do mine in school holidays) this must be for more than 4 weeks in a row.
They also said you can't estimate as you can't be totally sure what you will need so need to norm th of changes as they happen.
I can't find anything on their website that sad you can average out.

OP posts:

Original poster

thinkofthemoney · 29/07/2013 22:11

Norm th= inform them!

OP posts:

browneyesblue · 29/07/2013 22:17

I put in a claim for 4 days during the May half term, and it was fine. They told me it could either be paid as a one-off payment, or spread out over the year (I got a one-off payment)

browneyesblue · 29/07/2013 22:19

Oh, and I had no childcare costs before or after the half term, as I just use the 15 hours normally.

browneyesblue · 29/07/2013 22:22

Tax credit info for short periods of childcare can be found here

browneyesblue · 29/07/2013 22:25

Ignore me - I think I got it because I don't normally pay - different situation to you

Original poster

thinkofthemoney · 29/07/2013 22:27

Thanks Browney. I do have childcare costs all year round but no where near as much as the holidays. The new rules for one off payments for school holidays came in during 2010 but the 4 week rule seems to apply if you have existing childcare costs.
I am so confused!

OP posts:

floatyjosmum · 29/07/2013 22:30

I used to do the same as fed up or turkey - work put what I paid in holidays x 12 and add what I paid during term to x 30 then divide by 52.

This gives you an average weekly cost for the whole year. I'd give them this when I made my claim and they'd pay it across the year.eant I put some to one side ready for the holidays.

mrsminiverscharlady · 29/07/2013 22:43

Have a look at this leaflet In your situation as the amount you pay is not the same every week then you should work out what you pay in a year and average it out.

I haven't claimed for childcare costs, so I'm not sure whether you would work out the costs average over the rest of the year (August to end of March 2014) or the whole tax year (April 2013 to end of March 2014). It might be worth trying to speak to the CAB about exactly what to claim as in my experience the people on the phones (and even the officers who investigate claims!) don't always understand the rules properly.

Alambil · 29/07/2013 22:45

I claimed for 2 weeks, 2 years ago - they said I just had to wait until he went to the care and then let them know if I booked any more than the dates I gave them; I paid in January, so rang to see if they'd let me claim then, seeing as that's when I needed the money!

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