Child / working tax credit

[craftycottontail]

Just wondering if it's worth the waiting time on the notorious HMRC's phone lines...

I'm not being entitled (!!!), but we need to consider how much we can afford to send DC to nursery rather than relying on one family member for childcare (have no idea what we'd do if she was sick for example). I've gone through one benefits calculator online which says we'd be eligible for around £100 per week, mixture of child/working tax credits (based on paying 2 days of nursery per week at £84).

This seems brilliant but awfully generous... DH and I earn around £37k so we're not poor, but not rich enough for nursery costs not to cripple us.

I clicked on 'more information' which took me to another version of the calculator, so did that and it said we'd be eligible for nothing.

Anyway, will call them up on Monday but wondered if anyone has any insight in the meantime!

thanks :)

See here you will get a small amount, if its just one child in childcare, and you were paying £175 per week and earning £35k combined you would get £2610 per year, obviously it will be less than that though as your income is higher and your childcare costs lower. I'd estimate around £1,000 per year help, so worth claiming if you need childcare but not a huge help if you have family who can do it for free :)

That sounds more like it! Thanks for your help :)

But that link shows that a couple earning 35k with £90 a week childcare costs will get zero tax credits. So the OP won't be entitled to anything.

£84 x 2 days per week is £168 per week so she will get some help.

She says the £84 is per week, which I understand to be £42 for each of the two days in which case the tax credit entitlement is zero.
Perhaps the OP can come back and clarify.

She says 2 days per week at £84. I have assumed that means per day, however fairly sure she is capable of looking at the link, that's why I shared it for her rather than simply explaining :)

Yes, I'm just curious now as it must be some seriously good childcare to cost £84 per day .

No nothing as your income is above threshold? Unless you have children with the disability element I think it is £26k cutoff for one child and £32k for two.