want to go back to work now - help with credits/CM fees etc.

[Munz]

if anyone knows - i'm decided now to go back to work and have seem a good little job - 16hours p/w over 3 days (thurs, fri and sat)

wages would be £88p/w, but here;'s the thing! lol.

i'd have to get childcare on the thrus and fri morning (DH normally finishes at 1pm unless he's away then 5pm) so here's the questions!

how much would it effect our credits? earnings are currently £20200 would expect it to rise by £1000 but no more for this current year.

how much is a childminder (have decided to go down that route) have a few in mind but how do you pick a suitable one? (I did have one fave but have since decided against that one.)

how much help would we get with the childcare - it would be for 10 hours as DH would do the other 6.

ooh how did you find it going back to work as well? i'm now looking for something new - and feel awful for thinking that way about J but i'm hoping some of you understand..

any help would be greatly appriciated. I know i've always said I didn't want to go back to work, but now j's settled down more, and i'm starting to get a bit down I feel the time would be right to do a little job p/t.

sorry have thought of another question. how do CM's want paying - cash would work better for me, and if I was paid weekly i'd rather pay the CM weekly as well if that makes sence or is it easier for them to be monthly?

put your details into entitledto.com

I have just posted an answer on tax credits that may help (or not!!) on "totally confused" thread.
CM's charge about £2.50-£3.50 ph, go with your gut instinct. If you have doubts, they're not right. You have to be happy and not be influenced by ofsted/other people etc.
If it costs about £30pw, you will probably get about £20 towards it on that income. You will keep your existing Child Tax credit as well until April.
I felt guilty going to work, but DD wanted to go to "school" like ds, so I had to get a job to pay the fees, as she was only 2 when she started. She prefers being there full time now as she has meals with her friends and set routines etc. They only effect it has is she is tired and sulky sometimes when I pick her up at night.
I think after the mad rush to get everyone out in the morning the stress is less! My friend works 2 1/2 days pw and she says it's better than having to do 5 afternoons, as you have full days at home to do things with kids and housework etc. Sounds awful, but you can go to the toilet in peace at work, and drink hot tea, rather than stone cold. You have to check for sticky paw prints on your jumper more before leaving the house though .

lol. charlene ooh you have so described my life just now! I jsut want a cup of tea without a hand grabbing out! lol. the job is for thurs-sat i'd actually be looking at 8-13 hours of CM potentially dep on DH's working patterns.

will look at the other thread thanks. will they still pay out the CM help if the hours i'm paying for are less than 16 iycwim?

charlie - I find that site a bit naff, as we're army they don't account for that and seem to think we're enttiled to housing benifits etc but don't account that we're not iycwim. also it says we're entitled to £2000 odd in t/c's and we get jsut over half of that.

As long as BOTH of you EACH work over 16 hours each week, they will pay out. You just tell them if it varies by £10 up or down for more than 4 weeks, so you don't get overpaid.

well DH is full time, and my contracted hours would be 16 but J wouldn't be with the CM for 16 ifcwim?

Don't think it matters, they didn't ask me hours, just average cost each week.