Hi - hope someone can help as I am getting confused!
I am trying to work out what to do with DS2 and nursery next Spring when I go on Mat Leave.
We currently both work full time and pay full time childcare for DS2 (plus wrap around care for DS1) and get help with these costs from the Tax Credits. (income is less than 40k).
What I am wondering is whether I will be able to keep DS2 in childcare part time whilst I am on Mat Leave, and claim towards the costs of this on Tax Credits? I mean I will be at home with the new baby, but still employed on a full time basis.
I know that I am employed as far as the income calculation is concerned, and that I need to work out new approx annual income with mat leave costs less most of SMP etc etc, but I cannot find anything that says about childcare costs. I really want to have some time alone with new baby, and DS2 will be 2.5yo so won't want to sit still at all, and I think nursery a few days a week would be ideal. But we can't afford it without help from Tax Credits.
I have tried the entitled to website which is fab but it isn't explicitly clear - it asks about working hours, then about if you are on mat leave, and what your income will be, then asks about childcare costs. This implies you might be OK to claim support towards it but then again it might just be the way the form on the website works!
Has anyone been in this situation and can give me an idea? I would be most grateful! 