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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

I have namechanged for this. I am worried that my mindees parents have lied to tax credits people

18 replies

doonhamer · 14/01/2011 17:57

The mum told me today that they are getting £150 more than their monthly childcare bill paid by tax credits. So more than 100% of it paid.
I cannot for the life of me think why, as their joint take home salaries, before deductions etc is over £40,000.
She says it's because they take the previous years earning into acocunt not the current year, and that the DH wasn't working the previous year (but they weren't claiming childcare either as he wasn't working and she was on maternity leave)

Am I over reacting

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LaurieFairyonthetreeEatsCake · 14/01/2011 18:00

It sounds right to me as it's on last years.

Unless she's saying the child was with you last year and they weren't ?

MissQue · 14/01/2011 18:01

Surely they should be telling tax credits about their increase in income though?

Original poster

doonhamer · 14/01/2011 18:03

As far as I know she said that the tax credits people work out how much childcare they pay based on earnings from teh previous year (can i say at this point that she would AFAIK, be on her usual salary when on ML, not reduced pay), so they would still be on £32,000. The dad didn't work at all, as far as I can make out.
So they earn over £40,00 and get over 100% childcar epaid, and yet a couple across the road who earn just £3,000 less a year can't get childcare paid, so the mum doens't go out to work as they can't afford it.
it seems like a totally ludicrous system to me

OP posts:

littleducks · 14/01/2011 18:03

I wouldnt worry about it too much, i expect if he went from not working to over 40k then they will prob have to pay some back, it is a silly system

They wont get more than 80% childcare element, but lots of people just talk about the lump figure, ie "tax credits pay me £100 a week, which is my childcare paid" when actually £80 is the childcare element and the £20 another element ctc/wtc

littleducks · 14/01/2011 18:04

'it seems like a totally ludicrous system to me'

sounds about right!

Original poster

doonhamer · 14/01/2011 18:04

Oh no, she claims she is getting an "extra" £10.45 different tax credits too, on top of the over £1000 a month childcare tax credits" so that be the WTC credit, surely

OP posts:

littleducks · 14/01/2011 18:17

seems bizarre

BodleianBabe · 14/01/2011 18:36

Surely what they have done is provided evidence of income for last year (when they had very little) and their income for they year is assumed to be similar.

Thing is when they work it out for the next financial year they'll be told they've been overpaid so will have to pay the excess back.

Original poster

doonhamer · 14/01/2011 19:26

What's worrying me is that I don't know what hours she's told tax credits she uses me. I've never, in all the years I have been childminding been asked to confirm that someone is using my service!

OP posts:

tutu100 · 14/01/2011 19:30

BodleinBabe has got it right. Tax Credits are based on your previous years income as they assume that this years will be similar. If you get a pay rise or have a change in circumstances you have to inform them as otherwise you will be over paid and you will have to pay that money back when they find out, or they will stop your tax credits until the overpayment has been sorted out.

littleducks · 14/01/2011 19:55

Tbh it not really anything to do with you how much she has told tax credits that she is paying you, if tax credits want to know they will contact you. If she no longer uses you then you could call them to inform them they are no longer clients.

grandmainmypocket · 14/01/2011 21:20

She may have been underpaid for the previous year. Also unless you're earning more than 25,000 than last year your payments are based on the previous years salary. However, it does come as a shock to the system the coming year because you get a loit less help.

Im going to get less help this coming year and am a bit nervous, but because I'm starting to increase my childminding hours (will pay less in childcare) praying it will all work out ok.
If she had something to hide I dont think she would have told you so openly. My childminder I would hope would be looking out for me, rather than worrying that I'm dishonest. She actually tells me I stress too much every time I contact tax credits for slightest change in few pounds here and there.
I think its a shame really, it sounds a little like you begrudge them, and as long as they're working hard. I think, live and let live. If they work that creates work for us as childminders.

Original poster

doonhamer · 14/01/2011 21:35

begrudge them? no.

OP posts:

marriednotdead · 14/01/2011 22:46

The system is crap, I bet you their money is right.

We spent last year absolutely brassic as DH's earnings (from SE) were good the previous year.

Throwing money at us this year (which helps pay off the debts we ran up last year) but will be back to skint again come April

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 15/01/2011 13:11

Yes their figures are based on last years earning but they have a responsibility to tell the tax credit people that they are earning more this year.
One thing that doesn't appear to have crossed her mind is that when it comes to the annual review coming up t the end of the tax year they will tell her she has most probably been massively overpaid this financial year and not only will she receive less anyway due to the higher income but she will also have to repay the over payment back as well.

It is a bit of a rubbish system in some respects and one that relies on people to notify them of a change of circumstance such as this.

PositiveOutlook · 15/01/2011 18:55

In all honesty as long as you are not doing anything wrong I wouldn't worry about it. Best to keep out of it unless contacted by hmrc.

bonitagbchica · 15/01/2011 20:53

I couldn't agree more with positiveOutlook.

So long as you provide the correct information to HMRC if requested, I'd stay well and truly out of it. This will only lead to you being investigated as well, and can and will find anything to fine or jail you for.

Not. Worth. It.

Oldposternamechanger · 15/01/2011 21:14

If they were fiddling the Tax Credits I'd very much doubt they'd be explaining it in detail to you.

If they earnt less last year, they'll get more tax credits this year. If they're earning more this year then they don't have to tell them yet, until their annual declaration, and it won't necessarily affect the money they have already received as that is based on last tax year.

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