Am I entitled to help with childcare costs?

[swift1]

Hi all,

just wonderedif theres anyone who knows...

Both dh and I work and I usually take my dd with me , so I have no childcare costs. However, this is not possible anymore for 2 afternoons a week so I have registered her in a day nursery for these sessions.

Ive looked at my child tax credits and it says I have no childcare costs so the childcare element claimed is nil. We get approx £40 a month tax credits, but could I be entitled to more now I have addiotonal costs?

TIA

Possibly but doubtful if you are getting £40.00 per month.
Gordon Brown introduced something a bit ago, where you can get help from employers-something to do with N.I, not fully sure. Anyway it costs nothing for employers and can reduce your childcare bill by up to a third (I think-not fully sure here), and both parents can claim if they are both working, as long as both their employers are part of the scheme. Sorry if i sound a bit woolly, but I know something exists, because my employer (the council) run it. Any other MNetters know more?

There are childcare vouchers (one example is called Busy Bees) which are fully tax deductible up to about 50 pounds per week. You don't get them for free, but you do save the tax.

Search on google and childcare vouchers/busy bees and you should turn it up. THey will contact your employer on your behalf if you phone them, so that you can start the ball rolling. After the initial set up it is very easy, just faxing something off to them.

Thank you GQM. You have made perfect sense of my endless rambling.

The child tax credit should be able to give you an illustration on how much you might get.It depends on things like how much the household income is, how many hours you both work. Worth asking but the limit on who gets an increase based on childcare costs is quite low. Busy Bees type schemes definatley worth a look at. Good luck and shop around for the childcare costs and quality range greatly. How old is you DC as the term following their 3rd birthday they get an entitlement to some free sessional care.