Child Tax Credit / Child Benefit and Tax Free Childcare

[ReallyRatherBlonde]

Hi,

Am currently expecting my first baby and am trying to plan out finances, nursery costs etc.

I'm looking into the tax free child care scheme but it says you can't use this and claim tax credits at the same time.

Are child tax credits (which I understand are part of universal credit?) the same as child benefit (the £20 a week one?)

Its so confusing, any help would be great!

Thanks

No, child benefit is nothing to do with the other benefits. Anyone can claim child benefit but if you are a higher earner you may have to pay some or all of it back (£50-£60 you pay some back, £60k pay it all back)

Ah fab that's what I was hoping. Thank you :)

If you don’t have an existing claim for tax credits then you won’t be able to start a new one, it would be Universal Credit instead.