Help with Childcare

[Needanewadventure2021]

Hi

I am in receipt of tax credits and am looking at increasing my hours at work to up the household income. To work more I will need to put my child in before and after school childcare. However when using the tax credits calculator it would appear I am not eligible for any help towards childcare costs on an income of £20,000.

Single Parent, one child.

Is this correct? I can't afford to pay childcare even with the better wage. It will make the additional hours pointless as I will be left worser off after paying for childcare.

I thought the earnings threshold for childcare was higher than £20,000?

Employer doesn't off any type of scheme towards childcare (not sure what it's called).

UC is a disadvantage to me hence when I remain (trapped) on TCs. And I refer to it as trapped for things like that above. It would seem to be better off I need to earn above an amount where I am no longer eligible for them.

My reason for needing to work more hours is because financially I am struggling to make ends meet each month now. But if I have to start paying for childcare it really isn't going to help me as I'll be paying it straight out and more.

Anyone?

Did my reply go on?

I'm not sure this went on the 1st time so reposting.
I use a benefits calc called policy in practice, it's the simplest one. I used an income of £20000 a year and put £70 weekly childcare costs. It definitely showed entitlement.
When I removed the childcare it showed no entitlement to wtc only to ctc.
Im a better of adviser for CAB so use policy in practice all the time.

I'm sure you would be. We only stopped receiving the childcare element of tax credits when our joint income went above £50k. Although this was several years ago, possible they've reduced the threshold.

Thank you

I know at 20,000 wtc is lost but I was shocked at the childcare saying nothing. I will use the one you have just mentioned

It will also show you results under UC system. They do pay up to 85% childcare whereas under the old system its 70%. I would recommend using a service at CAB called help to claim. They will do the calculations for you and tell you what your entitlement will be under both systems. Its only a phone call or Web chat. You might actually find you will be better off under UC now as the work rules recently changed this month so people are finding they are now better off whereas before they weren't.

That is interesting to know. UC has always historically been much worse for me entitling me to significantly less under that system than on TC, hence why I have remained on TC. I am told this is because I am mortgaged and am entitled to no other elements under UC.

I really need to do something to up my income. I am already so tired though as I do everything at home too. Father isn't involved at all so everything is on my shoulders. But I really dont want to be working more, spending less time with my child and be taking home similar to what I do (or less) than working 30 hours a week like I currently do. I feel it would be pointless to do that to my child and us not be any better off

It's absolutely crap isn't it. Work work work and still struggle. I'm the same.
Hope you manage to sort it out but def try the calculator because it will give you a really good idea before you make a decision. X

Well according to that calculator I'd be less than £70 better off a month working more. Makes me wonder if it really is worth it whilst my child is primary school age

Can you use tax free childcare? For every £8 you put in the government puts in £2.

It’s the new version of the old childcare voucher scheme employers used to offer.

It's worth working because when your child is done with childcare you'll be settled in a well paid job rather than starting again from scratch.

Looks like I will be looking for alternative work now anyway. Everyone else is ending the year on big pay rises but myself gets 20p an hour. I am devastated after being told things are looking much better for me pay wise in January and also knowing what my colleagues have been awarded. Its really upset me to be honest. Also my benefits are different to everyone else's so I feel they are being grossly unfair so it's time to look for something new. My job isn't paid well and I do so much more than my job description. I am struggling to live as it is so an extra 20p per hour really isn't going to make a difference. Will probably cover the increase in national insurance from next year!

I could cry, in fact I have today. I hate myself that my poor son is growing up in a financially strained household

Why have you been awarded less?

No explanation was given. I know what others have been offered but it's not something you are allowed to talk about is it

If you are part time and your colleagues with higher raises are full time you may have the makings of a discrimination case (as part time workers are overwhelmingly female). Do you have a union? If not join one!

I know the company is against part time workers. Only see value in their full time sales reps! They haven't been very supportive of my situation all together. They just don't get single parenthood. I'm still furious about it all to be fair. To be promised next year I dont need to worry financially then find out its such a little rise. I'm absolutely insulted.

If I had any doubts my time was up there this is the sign I needed