I really, really need some urgent advice on whether to carry on whith this job application...please have a look and see what you think, thanks

[QueenEvil]

I have just applied for a full time job based on info given by tax credits that we would get help with childcare costs.

Today I spoke to them again and the advisor said with a joint income of £39,000 we would get no help whatsoever.

I was stunned as I put the application in based on the previous info they gave me. I did an online calculation which told me I would be entitled, so, now thoroughly confused, I called back for a double check on their calculations. I was told this time we would get help on that salary of £700 per month!!!

WTF am I supposed to do now? Believe we WILL or WON'T get any help? I cannot afford to work full time for £200 after paying childcare. WITH the help it would be worthwhile.

Bearing in mind ds3 would be at f/t school from next September so childcare will go down - do I take the job and muddle through til September (job would start end of Jan/early Feb) on a really low take home amount or retract the application now and wait 6 months?

bit confusing - and bloody annoying.

no advice, just sympathy here

Have you tried putting all the info in on www.entitledto.co.uk, they are normally spot on for me.

no good looking on line, that is only a guide. You need to ring them and they will explain (it's really complex) exactly how each increment works.
You also need to ask how much help you will get with your childcare costs - if most of this is covered, that makes your earnings seem higher - if that makes any sense at all. Ring them, it's free, and write everything they say down on paper. Then get your calculator out.

Thanks for the sympathy but it's more than just annoying.

If I retract the application I will look foolish.
If I carry on, I risk being desperately poor for six months.

I would be able to get vouchers anyone know how these ctully work?

I'd be almost tempted to explain the trap you are to them. They have a very strong push from above to get poeple into work, and it would not shock me if there were allowances etc that could be found.

I would also be very careful about retracting the application, it might affect your benefits. It may well be the best thing to do to flunk the interview rather than let them claim you aren't "actively seeking work".

I'd also get their advice in writing. With the crap systems and untrained staff the phrases "as far as I could throw them" comes to mind.

Have done the entitledto website as well as he Inland Revenue one. As well as phoning them up to get an estimation. All give me differing amounts ranging from £0 to £700!!!

Have spoken to them again this afternoon and been estimated an amount of £944 per month help!

Can you believe it?

Me and Dh are on just over 40k a year and we get tax credits but none towards childcare costs. We get £800 child tax / working tax and £800 family tax.

will dig out my breakdown...

is the £200 you make include your costs of working (so travel etc.)? if so, I would take the job anyway and ride out the months till ds3 is at full time school. When I went back to work the first time, initially I only made around £200 profit (after a baby in full time nursery, travel card, working costs etc.).

As long as it doesn't mean you are losing money, I would stick with it.

reading it back, I wonder if you mean £200 per year rather than per month (I was assuming per month!).

Yes, thank you that is actually very helpful!

Our combined income would be a fraction over £39,000 and we should get in the region of £900 according to what one of the advisors told me, up until April and it will then drop quite substantially (probably half. I can live with that though.

We have a combined income of £40k a year and childcare costs of £350/mth and we get £38/mth tax credit - this was closer to £85/mth when ds was under a year. When I first applied, I was told we would never qualify for the childcare element whilst we were earning at that level - the adviser said it would need to be under £13k for it to kick in!! Does this employer offer childcare vouchers - if they do that's a really good way to make a tax saving as you have the money deducted from your salary and only pay tax and ni on the balance - we save about £900 a year by doing this.

Yes work do offer vouchers - how do they work exactly? Childminder has said she will possibly accept them, but I know nothing about them, please enlighten me!

where I work, you tax a pay cut but get a raise as such to get the vouchers. eg you take a 2k cut and get that in vouchers instead, but its non taxable so you actually get 2k plus the tax you would have lost on that amount iyswim