Child care and CM

[Roobear23]

I just wanted to find out what other people do in this situation..

DS (2) is starting with a child minder soon as I am going to start looking for work. He is booked in for the hours that are funded at the moment but this is likely to increase if I get a job. So the childcare that will need to be paid for: do you split the cost of it or does that come under the child maintenance payments?

I appreciate that a lot of people will not get any maintenance etc so I realise that I could be a lot worse off but just want to find out the norm.

For reference, XP lives 4 hours away and visits every couple of weeks (shift work) so couldn't be relied upon for child care.

Thank you.

Normally tax credits will bridge the gap if needed. It comes under child maintenance normally.

As above poster says, tax credits pay 70% of child care costs. On your time you are expected to pay for childcare.

As wrong as it seems yes you have to pay for childcare. I’ll never get my head around that to be honest!

You pay for any childcare you need when ds is with you and ex pays for any he needs. Clearly you will need it and he likely wont, but you ought to be able to claim up to 70% of it back through tax credits so that should help.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I'm with you @Whoknows11!

Seems unfair that although the cost of raising him is increasing, the cm remains the same especially when he doesn't do much actual parenting.

Ah well, thanks again.

Child care can be (partly) covered by tax credits. You have to go through an approved provider though so plan ahead.

tax credits pay 70% of child care costs

arrggh! No, not the case. As others have said, it is up to 70% of child care costs. Please don't perpetuate the 'single parent benefit' myth.