I am currently on maternity leave and returning in Jan/feb. I say returning, I am a teacher and have registered with a supply agency rather than returning to my old job.
my son is a march 2024 baby so I understand will be eligible for 15 hours from January 1st, as long as I return to work by 31st Jan. it seems I could do one day in January to make him eligible, then not do any more until mid/late February which is when I planned to start working again and have a nursery place. However, I have to earn the minimum amount (£2380) for the quarter by the end of March. This should be doable for me, but if the agency doesn’t have enough work, or I get sick or something, I may not earn that much. What happens in this situation? Where we have claimed free hours (and TFC for after school club for our older child) but then it turns out we weren’t eligible?
I called HMRC but the person I spoke to didn’t know. He said I had to sign a declaration saying I wasn’t giving false details and I could be fined or taken to court, but im not giving false details. I intend and expect to earn that much, but life happens. It must have happened to other people? Do we simply pay the difference back, or is there a fine?
Any advice gratefully received!