Childcare element of Child Tax Credit

[BadHair]

Does anyone know how much do you have to earn before you're not entitled to the Childcare element of the Child Tax Credit?

Am having a nightmare with it all. Sent the reapplication form for this year off months ago, and got a call from the Tax Office at the end of June to tell me that they'd just realised they hadn't paid me the Childcare element of last year's award. They sent me a form to fill in detailing the amounts I paid in childcare last year, and told me to expect a hefty cheque in return. So I filled it all in and sent it back.

I rang them today to see how things were going, and was told that as our joint income is around £25k we weren't entitled to the Childcare element, so not to expect anything. I asked why they had contacted me if I wasn't entitled to anything, and surprise surprise, the bloke on the helpline didn't know.

I've also found the explanatory booklet that was sent with last year's application form, and there's a table in there that lists incomes up to £55k together with an idea of the amount you should receive.

Sorry if this is a bit long, but I'm really confused. Please help oh wise mumsnetters!

No idea but give them another ring when you can as you get a different answer each time you ring in my experience!

The whole thing is a complete mystery to me.
100 quid appeared in my bank account the other day curtosey of wftc, but I haven't a clue why or which bit it is or anything.
I am going to have to ring them now incase it's a mistake and the want it back.

This is a mistery I'll never understand, some say £58,000 joint income, but when you try to apply surprise you are entitled to nothing... but then you ask again and you are, you aply and you aren't, and.... so on

I don't have the up to date info - but this was last years. It was a joint income of £42,527 to get no help if you were paying out the maximum (£200 per week) for 2 or more children. £32189 for 1 child if you were paying the maximum amount of childcare (£135) is the point beyond which you get no help with childcare costs.