child tax credits and child care and maternity pay

[lefthandedscissors]

Hi all,
i'm going to be a lone parent in a few short months and am panicking about money. I've been with my employer for over 2 years so will get SMP (? ) I work for local government who are supposed to be good with this sort of thing.

i will return to work after taking the maximum maternity leave i can - provided i can afford to do that. I rent privately and already get a small amount of housing benefit as i am on a very low income (just under £10,000). I currently work 21 hours but that may be cut due to service cuts, however so far i've not been told that my hours will drop below 19 pw. I believe that means i will get tax credits and working tax credits, though of course things are changing with universal credit. Am i right in thinking that the element of tax credits that pays for child care only covers a maximum of 70% of child care fees? Is it possible to survive? I have low outgoings, non-smoker, no car, no loans, don't mind staying in.

any help/ reassurance welcomed! p.s ex won't be giving me more than £5 pw until he finds himself a new job.

Hi lefthandedscissors,

As long as you work at least 16 hours a week you will get working tax credits and up to 70 per cent of your childcare costs paid. I think you should get the full amounts for both on your salary. Plus child tax credit and child benefit of course. You still might be able to get a little bit of HB. HTH a bit.

thanks so much petisa

Sometimes it's easier to claim your childcare costs through housing benefit (as you are in receipt of it) as it's a much more responsive benefit and doesn't seem to suffer from the same 'ove/under-payment' disease that Tax Credits do. You just write a 'change in circ's' letter to them, send in a bill/ a letter from nursery (who obv have to be ofsted registered, just like for CTC) and bob's your uncle.

p.s. I worked for local government and they tried to screw me over massively (and a colleague of mine shortly before) on my maternity leave, so don't take it for granted that they know what they're doing/ are acting in your best interests. If you need to check up on anything call these lot - they were absolute gems for me! Call our new Helpline Number 0300 012 0312 (or 020 7253 4664) for advice on your rights at work including flexible working, maternity/paternity leave & maternity discrimination

ooh thanks 121 i'll give them a ring tomorrow. I've looked the maternity pay in my employee book but i can't understand what they are saying!!
and thanks for tip on housing benefit. that may be especially useful if i start doing more flexible work- something that seems to be coming , we've all been told we have to be more flexible workers- not so easy for those with carer responsibilities.

oops hope i haven't outed myself!

Well good luck to you, it's hard work, but I wouldn't swap it! X