What help do you get with Childcare costs?

[SeaChelles]

Hi all, currently SAHM to my 22 week old DS. Was made redundant whilst on mat leave.

I HAVE to go back to work to make ends meet - however even going back part time it looks like childcare will cost us £400 a month....(makes you wonder what the point in going back is!).

There are no family members who can help with care - so its nursery/childminder for the full 3 days.

I know the government provide some support towards childcare? Just wondering what kind of support this is and maybe how much we might be looking at? Some examples would be great.

Cheers.

It all depends on your circumstances as to how much help you can get, try going on the direct gov website, they have links to a tool to calculate a estimate of how much tax credits you can get.

I work 3 days a week and think £400 is cheap!!

My childcare was £500 a month and I got the whole lot from tax credits. Its gone down now she is 3 but I still get the whole lot left over from the 15 hours free entitlement.

I work three days a week. DS in nursery all day on those days. Nearest family member is 200 miles away. Chilcare bill is £450 a month.

DH and I both get childcare vouchers so save a bit on tax and we get £5/week child tax credits. That's it. realisticaly, with all this taken into account, we still pay about £400/month out of our own pockets.

Don't forget childcare vouchers - these are deducted from your gross pay so it means you don't pay tax on them. If your/your partner's employers don't already have a scheme in place then ask if they can join up to one, it benefits them too.

The only thing to bear in mind is that your salary is effectively reduced, so anything that is calculated from it will be effected, eg pension payments.

x-post!