So confused about 15 hours free childcare!!

[Pinkwinks35]

Hi all
Im so confused about the 15 hours free childcare for 9 month olds+ that starts in sept. It says ALL children are entitled but then I’m reading that if you or your partner earns over 100k you’re not eligible? My husband earns over 100k and pays a crazy amount of tax that is pretty much half of his salary gone - I’ll be disappointed if we aren’t at least able to claim 15 hours. Can anyone shed some light on this? The more I read the more confused I am. Thanks in advance! Xx

Yes it's true, you won't be eligible.

Yes that’s right. But I think you can take pension off? So you might be eligible depending on his salary and % into pension.
You also won’t be eligible for tax free childcare.

Yes, you’re not eligible but some people put extra into their pensions to bring them below the £100,000

That quite possibly might be true (I haven’t read up on it) - £100k is the cut off for tax free childcare and 30 hours funded for 3 year olds presently (15 is universal for 3+ I think) so it wouldn’t be a surprise if it was also the cut off for the new funded hours.

if you’re not much over the £100k you can pay extra in to a pension to bring you back under - in England at least.

You both have to be working and neither of you can earn more than 100k, so no you will not be eligible. If he earns only a small amount over £100k then his salary for assessment purposes might be under; as they consider the salary after pension contributions. Some people pay extra into their pension for the same reason.

Yep not eligible sorry - my husband earns over 100k, I do not, so I feel your pain! Pension contributions is the only option if it's not too much over.

Hi,

I have been looking at the new childcare that’s offering 15 hours for 9 month olds to 2 year olds. I checked childcare choices website and it suggests that as he was born end of November he would be entitled to the 15 hours from September term as he will be 9 months by then, does anyone know if this is correct?

my question other is around me returning to work, the gov website says “ You can apply if you’re starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days” and also then says “Over the next 3 months you and your partner (if you have one) must each expect to earn at least: £2,380 before tax if you’re aged 21 or over (equivalent to £183 per week)”

So would I be able to start the childcare on 1st September and return to work on 1st October? And by return to work do I actually need to be back fully or just need to be earning £2,380 between September 1st and December 1st as I was thinking/hoping that I could use my 10 KIT days for October and then use my built up holiday for November and return fully in December ie between paid KIT days and holiday I will have earned the required amount but not actually return to work as such.

thanks in advance