Tax Credits during and after M/L - do these figures sound right?

[FluffyPiggle]

Hi

I'm trying to plan money ahead of DC1's arrival...

OH works in retail on minimum wage 4 days a week. I currently earn 9.73 working 5 days a week.

When I eventually go back to work I'm hoping to go down to 3 days a week. We're not expecting to pay for childcare so after combining wages and looking at the right table it would seem we would qualify for around £2400 a year.

But I've just tried to work out for while I'm on Maternity Leave. Due to changing jobs I would only receive maternity allowance. I had heard this is disregarded for tax credits so compared OH's wages to the table again and obviously the amount we're supposedly entitled to is higher (about £6000)

But when I added this to maternity allowance and OH's wages it worked out slightly higher than when I go back to work. It's about a £150 difference.

Are the tax credits tables generally accurate? Just wondered if anyone ever had anything similar or is a bit more savvy than me?

ime the tables are pretty close to what I have received ! I am also on maternity allowance now , our income is quite low and with 2 children and both of us employed so qualify for wtc, we received £160 per week .
You can also input your details onto a calculator on the hmrc website, when completed take note that the calculations are from the date you input the information, not the start of the tax year