Will removing childcare claim cause switch to Universal Credit?

[OhAnotherNameChange]

Hello 😊 I have searched online for this and unfortunately can't find any information that gives a definitive answer.

Currently I work part time and we claim tax credits. In September DD will get her 30 free hours childcare and be starting school nursery Monday to Friday.

The plan is (hopefully) to pick up a couple of shifts extra per week to get my income up. I have looked at how this will affect our tax credits but I'm not sure if it will trigger a change to universal credits? We will stop our claim for her current nursery fees as she will of course no longer be going, and increase the out of school club fees we currently pay as she will be attending OOSC at least 1 day per week, along with her older sister.

I'm trying to get an idea on what is the best decision financially as if this does trigger a change to universal credit what we would get in UC means thar despite a higher income we would actually be worse off than we are now. If that is the case I'd prefer to wait a few years until I can get a better paying fulltime job (my current role is not one I want to do fulltime due to the working hours)

I know there are some posters who have brilliant knowledge of TC and UC so I'm hoping someone could help me 😊

Yes I'm afraid any new claim will go through UC, as tax credits doesn't exist for new claimants. As your current claim will end and be closed, a new claim will have to be UC.

As for being better or worse off I'm afraid I don't know, but you can use calculators online such as turn2us and entitledto which give you an idea of what you will get.

@SylviaPlath1984

Yes I'm afraid any new claim will go through UC, as tax credits doesn't exist for new claimants. As your current claim will end and be closed, a new claim will have to be UC.

As for being better or worse off I'm afraid I don't know, but you can use calculators online such as turn2us and entitledto which give you an idea of what you will get.

Why will the current claim end?

As the op says:

We will stop our claim for her current nursery fees as she will of course no longer be going

This means the claim will end and it will be a new claim, hence UC

Is it a change of circumstances? I would think not, but I don't know for sure.

We are still eligible for tax credits without her childcare costs. I spoke to someone on HRMC live chat who said it "shouldn't" trigger a switch to Universal Credit, the "shouldn't" made me a bit dubious.

Either way we will obviously have to tell them she is no longer at nurseey, I'm now trying to figure out what working pattern will be best for us going forward.

If you're still entitled to TCs without the childcare element, your TC claim won't be closed and you won't have to switch to UC if you need to claim in future.

It would only close the TC claim if you were just getting childcare and nothing else.

My understanding is that it shouldn't trigger a change. Things that do include a new application for JSA, ESA, Housing Benefit of council tax relief. Change of address or income change that is still in the criteria for WT is fine too. In the last three years I have moved twice and had income changes and have not been moved to UC. Hope this helps

Thank you happyjules and lakielady for your replies, I'm pretty sure now it won't trigger the change. I've got a rough idea of how the increase in hours and reduced childcare costs will affect us and despite the obvious drop in tax credits we will still be about £200 per month better off.
I'm strangely reappy excited to take on a bit more at work and work towards a promotion that would mean we would no longer qualify for any financial help! Tax credits have been a lifeline for us but the day we no longer need to claim anything will be a happy day 😊

It’s the shouldn’t... but some staff can at times make different decisions and whilst one will do one thing you could find another makes your TC stop and you have to apply for UC

Until the time comes unfortunately you’ll not know for sure, sorry that’s not the answer your looking for