Child tax credits on maternity leave?

[pinkie87]

I have used the online calculator, but I'm struggling to understand how to use it to take maternity leave into account. My partner works full time earning £24,000. I currently earn £25,000 but hope to take one year maternity leave beginning end of August. I know we are not entitled to child tax credits on our current salaries, but does anyone know if I would be eligible to receive anything whilst on maternity leave? My income whilst on mat leave would be approximately £8075 before tax + SMP.

I'm not sure but I think the cut off point for child tax credits entitlement for a joint claim is 25k a year. So if your husband earns 24k and you £8075 I still don't think you will be entitled to anything... could be wrong though.

It's a huge faff.
you basically make a claim on last year's income and get a nil entitlement. You then have to phone to advise of change of circumstances, ie maternity leave, and they'll calculate your change of income, ignoring the first £2500.
Personally I wouldn't bother as any amount you might receive is minimal looking at your income.
As the pp says, you might be over limit anyway even while on maternity.

Ok thanks all!

If it's your first child the threshold is £26k so your income would be too much. You might get some help with childcare costswhen you go back to work though.