Childcare costs in child tax credits ... who can get them?

[peaches27]

We now have the full time care of our grandchildren as their mother has left them. We have just got child benefit and are about to claim child tax credit, and according to the entitledto site we should get some. DH works, I dont I get incapacity benefit. The eldest is 3 and in nursery which of course is free. If I was to put the youngest into private nursery for just one afternoon a week to give me a break, would I be able to claim this as childcare costs and get it back through CTC even though I dont work?

peaches, I think you should be able to. The childcare element of the CTC is there to pay registered childcare, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get it.

Hope so, anyway! I'm sure you will need the break!

Um, I don't think you can if you don't work. Ours was stopped the day DH lost his job when the kids were young enough to qualify. Students can't get it wither unless they work 16 hours a week, so in that case we have to apply for help elsewhere.

Sorry.

but her DH works, would this not count?

I understand that you both have to work a minimum of 16hrs a week to qualify

I was working when DH lost his job, 30 hrs a week. So no, DH working alone doesn't count.

The assumption is that if one adult is not working, they can do the childcare so both have to be working 16 hours minimum.

There might however be an allowance since you are on incapacity benefit.

my form last year states that both parents should be working 16hrs and 30hrs or working 30hrs and the other having a disabilty, so yes i think you could claim peaches.

peaches27, in view of the fact you are caring for your grandchildren, could you approach social services re: some financial help for some childcare? Let's face it, without willing grandparents these children might be in care! Then social services would be shelling out huge amounts for their care.

Lay it on thick about your exhaustion and needing a break, and see what they say!

Actually i've known SS to have funds put aside that they use for this purpose so that would be good advice. you might also contact the CAB and ask them what they would advise given your incapacity- they would be aware of the full range of financial / support packages available.

And don't forget- as well as the extras you deservedly should get as a carer, you also can go for the things a parent would have: so for example, if you need help to get out and about (sorry, i don't know your disability) then HomeStart could help (see their webpage) for as longa there is a child under five, and they can also advise on what else is out there... actually, that's one of the roles of the Organisers (I was one).

Also, see if you have a local SureStart. They do vary as they select their own aims to an extent, ut the one I worked with (funded me) had funds put aside for childcare and you'd have been a primary candadate, as would mums with PND or children with a disabled sibling.

Sparklemagic, dont get me started on social services... grrr. Been trying for ages by myself and now via a solicitor to get a residence order allowance. It is discretionary and means tested, but they havent even looked into the means tested side, but I continue to push for this. It would be costing them several hundred pounds a week to get these kids fostered but they do not take that into account. What makes me laugh is anything we get would have the child benefit deducted from it so it might be nothing anyway!

Actually, I was browsing the net tonight and found that the CTC helpline was actually open today on a bank holiday in the evening!!! So I rang. Yes we are entitled to CTC and he told me approx how much. We are also entitled to help with childcare, I couldnt give him an amount, but what he said was if I was paying out £50 a week childcare then my CTC would be increased by just under £40 pw. So I will be looking into a local private nursery that I know that my grandson went to until he started nursery at school.

I get the help with childcare because I receive the low amount disability living allowance and incap benefit.

Thanks for all your replies. I will let you know the result when we fill out the forms etc.

oh brilliant news peaches! do let us know how things go, I'll keep this thread watched.