UC & Tax Free Childcare help!

[Lollypop233]

Hi all,

I’m sorry if this is a little long winded, I just can’t find a straight answer anywhere!
*I am aware you cannot claim UC and tax free at the same time”

My question is…My UC entitlement is completely dependant on the Childcare Element. If we had no childcare costs, we’d get nothing.
Some months we pay, for example, £50 childcare for one child. Uploading this to UC, once wages are deducted etc we’d still get nothing. Other months (school holidays etc) we pay £1300 a month for three children. Uploading that to UC we would be entitled to some money back.

So, if I have assessment periods in which I know we have not paid enough for Chilcare Element on UC and therefore would be entitled to no UC….can I claim that childcare payment under the tax free scheme instead?

Hope this makes some sort of sense!

I don’t think so, check with your UC coach but I think it is an either/or.

That’s an interesting question and I am helpfully bumping for you. perhaps you could do tax free child care sep-jun. Close down your claim and then claim UC over the summer months when childcare costs are higher. Really no idea though.

No you just need to work out over a year, which scheme you'd be better off claiming.