Tax Credits again, sorry. Childcare element question.

[ValiumQueen]

Hi there, today I have been told that as my husband and I earn £30000 between us, we will not have any help towards our childcare. We have 3 children, both work full time, and our childcare costs are about £1400 a month. I thought we would have help of 70% up to £210 per week. And they have also said they overpaid us by £4000 last year for childcare even though we earned only £400 more than the year before.

I have put my figures through the calculator and it says we should get the full £210 per week. I have been almost hysterical today after hearing this, as it seems either my husband or I will need to give up work to look after our two youngest who are in full time childcare of today ironically (following mat leave) if we do not have the full help.

Did you claim help with childcare whilst on maternity leave? There are lots of overpayments that occur in this way.

link you're right, mrsmiiverscharlady, but even still, that allows them to recover £3659.30 in one year, which means that they'll get no childcare help whatsoever, as the advisor said.

Why would that be mrs?

Child care claims can continue during maternity leave without penalty, as long as the child care costs are still incurred.

But although the payments they're actually getting will drop by that figure, the award itself should still show that they are entitled to childcare I think.

Actually, I should have clarified:

Child care claims can continue during maternity leave without penalty, as long as the child care costs are still incurred, for the first 39 weeks of Maternity Leave. The remaining 13 weeks are not covered.

If you take a full year's maternity leave you can't get childcare tax credits for the last 13 weeks.

x-posted!

Yes, but only a little, mrs - not the full help the OP thought she'd get.

I think you're wrong about childcare being taken first - I think it's actually the work element first

Seems so.

My head hurts. Sorry my boy is very poorly so I cannot respond fully. Thank you though x

I only had 9 months mat leave, child care did continue but at a fraction of before. They are clawing back over two years apparently.

Dear Lougle
Hope your DD2 assessment is going smoothly and how you expected. I'm new here. My DD1 has only 2.5 y-o.
You explained all these taxes better than my husband's accountant. Whose we got rid of him today because he made us lose in childcare vouchers... I'm so frustrated because I'm Brazilian and my husband is American and it is extremely hard to understand the British system... Now I found a job, 16 hours, and it sounds that I'm better off staying at home... how come... ?! :(
Another consultant said we would be better with Vouchers...?
Our salary together in the next 6 months (when DD1 will get 3year-old 30 hours free) will be around 27k.

How come I cannot get 70% Child element?

Thanks so much for any answer.

This is a thread from 2013. Only just noticed. The rules have probably changed since then. Especially re third children.

Arielle because you only have one child. If you had three children and earned 27k you would get tax credits for childcare.
As you only have one child your income would have to be much lower.
Vivienne the childcare allowances haven't changed re third children.