Can you reclaim childcare costs if you don;t qualify for WTC?

[IntergalacticWalrus]

I have just got a job working for my old compnay, and basically, it's really not going to be worth my while, given that over half of my income will go on a childminder, which means we will actually be worse off than we are now (and I'll be working more hours)

However, as we are not classed at a "low income family" (ha!) we don't qulaify for working tax credits.

The comany I work for dont do childcare vochers either. DP is going to try and persuade them today (he works for the smae fimr) but I'm not holding my breath.

So what do I do if I can't get childcare vouchers? I really don;t want to get up at 5.30am 3 times a week (plus do a part time evening job til midnight in order to keep as afloat) for no return whatsoever.

(sorry, I'm moaning again. It just seems that whenever we get to a point where we are getting our heads above water, someone pushed us under again)

The going rate where we live is around £4ph per child, and we are paying for 2 of them.

The loca (decent) nuseries are mega expensive, plus they have waiting lists that could go round the world 3 times.

I'd also rather the boys went to a childminder, and we have found one we really like

Also, there is no flexibilty withy DPs job, as he needs to work duing normal "business" hours and there for has to be in 9-530 every day. My job is a little more flexible. I will be working fomr home a lot, but half of my time needs to be in the office.

Ah ok, we pay more for nursery places than we would for a childminder so I thought this would be the same everywhere.

How many hours will you be working in total? If your DP works more than 30 hours you could be entitled to something? The childcare element is different to WTC.

Just spoken to TC helpline again, and got omeone helpful. We can get an extra £15-20 pw, which will go someway to helping

DP has just had a meeting with his boss, and they are positive aboyt the vouchers scheme and DP has to meet the finance director on Monday to get them implemented (They aren't the most family friendly employer tbh, so I am v v sur[prised by this)

I'm also going to get a new PC ()because mine is slow as buggery)

Feeling a bit more positive now. Not so myuch doom and gloom.

There you are see - things are looking up - I was going to come round with an emergency red cross alcohol delivery - might still do actually !!!

Childcare vouchers actually save the company money as well, IGW, so even if not family-friendly they should realise it makes sense... Good news all round, then.

Could someone please tell me in simple to understand terms

HOW DO THE VOUCHERS WORK

and

WHAT ARE THEY

and

HOW DO I GET THEM??

thanks

How to get them: Ask your employer if they do them. If they do, they will tell you how to get them. If they don't, it's tough and you can't have any.

What they are / how they work:

Actually, in the case of most I've seen they aren't "vouchers" at all.

In my case, for example, my employer pays £X of my salary per month to a third party childcare voucher company and the rest to me. I don't have to pay tax or NI on the first £250 (actualy it's two-hundred-and-forty-something, but I forget exactly) of the £X, nor does my employer have to pay employer's NI on it, so we both save money.

Then I tell the third party company to pay DS's nursery (in my case, a set monthly amount, but you can do it on an ad hoc basis) and they do.

oooh thanks

have rung my team leader and she has rung head office and it looks like I can get childcare vouchers too!!

still dont really understand but I am sure I will in time!

But if you get childcare vouchers it affects your childcare element of tax credits - it all gets very complicated and you need to check out the overlap otherwise the tax credits people will come after you for it back.
There ar some calculations about it on the Busy bees website I think - I'm sure thats the one I checked.
Be thankful you can get vouchers - we are both self employed and there is no equivalent tax/ni break for the self employed. We are JUST outside the help bracket for childcare tax credit help, can't get vouchers, have 2 kids in nursery for 3 days and we pay £800 a month for that. Way more than 50% of my earnings for the 3 days but I figure we would be a lot worse off in the long run if I don't keep in work, so you have to take the long term view, not just look at each months pay packet.
I can't wait for Sept 09, when DS1 starts school and Ds2 gets the free sessions deducted from the daily rate!!!!

fuckety fuck

They won't do childcare vouchers becauwe they have lots of admin costs involved, apperntly, so therfor, I'm going to be arning the grand total of £11 a week.

Is it fucking wortrh it?

I'm going in to see them today to tell them I'm not able to take the job unless they change my hours so I'm working nmore from home

IGW - if they did do the vouchers scheme you would be penalised on teh Tax Credits anyway.....so I don't think it would have helped.

I get the lowest rate of tcs ,so it wouldn't have made a difference to them.

Just been for a meeting at work

I will be doing 22 hours a week, which after tax, NI and childcare costs will earn me £40 a week.

Better than nothing, I suppose.

A bit pissed off they won;t do the childcare vouchers, but what can I do?

IW - they don't need to go through expensive 3rd party companies to administer this scheme. they can do it direct with the childcare provider. they just deduct the relevant amount from your salary and send the cheque direct.

the information is on the govt sites...your company is just looking for excuses.

find the PDFs, read them, explain to them it costs nothing but a minor bit of effort on their part to adminster.

IGW - that sounds like pants (although, to be fair - you only get £55 per week towards childcare costs but its balanced by a saving on tax of £900 pa approximately).

Check out ACCOR, and see if you can find out about costs. Sounds like they just cant be arsed...

That said, I ended up doing unsocial hours for nearly a year 3pm to 10pm 4 evenings a week, and for the first 3 hours of the shift I was actually losing money (it cost £10 ph for childcare and I was earning £7 ph). But there were enhancements for working evenings, and I could do the odd weekend/evening overtime shift.

But you don't actually "get" £55 a week do you? You can just sacrifice that amount from your salary which would save you about £10 a week?

IW - I really really sympathise with you. It's pants.

I suppose I just have to look at it from a long term pov, I suppose.
Roll on September 2011, when they are both at bloody school(not really, I'll probably be a wreck when they have both gone)