childcare money from working tax credits

[LAURACOLLEY]

I'm currently at university and am due to finish at the end of june 2009. I have a 2 year old who attends nursery full time on week days. I have earned zero last tax year (07 - 08) and will probably earn zaero this tax year (08 - 09). My partner earned 18750 before deductions last year (07 - 08). Last year we were entitled to about £2000 worth of child tax credits but no working tax credits. My partner is predicted to earn about 19200 before deductions this year (08 09). It is the LEA and the university that pay 100% of my sons nursery costs at the moment but all this will stop at the end of June 2009. This childcare costs are £573.75 a calendar month (132.40 a week) and this is all weeks or months of the year. The question is is how much can myself and my partner earn this year (08 - 09) to be eligable for the working tax credits again and the 80% of the childcare costs next year (09 - 10) if from June 2009 I was working 16 hours a week. And then does anyone know or can predict how much we can earn next year (09 - 10) and not have to pay any of the childcare payments back and still get some for the following (10 - 11) tax year. After that my little lad will be at school. I thought I'd better ask about the following year becuase I'll take a 16 hours a week job back on the checkouts or something until find a degree related job. This I hope will then put me on about £18000 or £20000 a year. It's just that how am I going to search for work and attend interviews up and down the UK with no childcare paid for? There's no way we will be able to fund a nursery place on my partners wages alone.

i don't have any dreams

What age are you Laura?

I hope you are joking about having no dreams, surely everyone needs to have dreams...?

Can I ask how you get the £12k grant for your masters? I work with part time students and am always looking at ways to help with their funding. I've not been aware of much availability for post-grad funding so am interested to know so I can let my PG students know where to apply to.

Also, dh and I were told that we weren't eligible for the childcare element of tax credits as we earned over the "threshold" (not publicised) of £20k.

Another option might be to ask your university (try the Welfare or Finance offices) if there are any bursaries available.

i'm 23.

just with research councils. Thats what the advisor at uni has done us we will probably get about £12k grant + fees paid.

the childcare element threshold of 31k was from -

www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

but you only get £20 ish at 31k.

Looks like I'll get about 70% of £6884.8 with partner earning £18750.

£1000 a year on mobiles? So over £40 each per month - get better tariffs or install a landline.

£2600 a year for food? Over £200 a month for 2 adults and 2 yr old - I feed a family of 4 for £150 a month and we eat well.

Learning to economise would be a good start.

i did look around for the best contact for our useage and that was the best price that was available.

£50 a week I think is good for a family of three. This includes all tolities, washing powders etc and nappies too not just the food stuff.

I assume with a masters in environmental science you will be entering quite a specialised field? Have you researched the jobs available in the field you want to work in? And of any of them are in your area?

there's jobs for me all over the place but I will need to look all around the UK for a job due to strong competition. Hopefully in environmental consultancy.

I think you need to wake up and live in the real world and support yourself. Most people would give anything for an £18k salary plus full childcare benefits etc from LEA. £1000 on mobiles would pay a lot of childcare!

You cant claim full time childcare costs if only working 16 hours a week, why should tax payers and the government subsidise un-needed childcare? If you need to go to an interview, then you'll have to work around it like everyone else.

If you are a student why do you need all year round childcare ? Termtime is only about 35 weeks iirc. Maybe a childminder would be a more flexible option if you are having to fund it more yourself and they still can qualify for the LEA over 3's funding. Can you get a pt job for the remaining weeks to top it up ? It might mean you have less time to study and or your dp has to do more when he comes in to enable you to but that is reality and will be so even when your child starts school if you do a MA.

OP - Do you realise you would need to EARN the best part of £10k to pay you child's nursery fees if you were working; since you need to take into account tax and NI to get the £7k per year for your child's nursery fees?

Would you like to pay HALF your salary to the nursery when you start working since your salary will be around £20k? This situation is the reality for a lot of people whereby a HUGE chunk of their salary goes on nursery fees.

Expecting your nursery fees to be covered by somebody else when you're looking for a job is just unbelievable.

when I get a good, probably degree related job I'll be happy to pay the childcare. I've got no problem paying for it if i'm earning it

but equally you can't expect others to be sympathetic to footing the bill because you have chosen to have a baby and take time out to study.

but if i can't get a job as i can not get to the interview then what am I supposed to do? Take my child with me?

Do you have student friends who would have your child for a bit or maybe a childminder would take him for the odd day ? dh had to take time off when I had an interview. If you really want a job you'll find a way.

we might have to rent somewhere near to my mum. will have to see if she will help out. don't ave time for alot of student friends but the ones I have will be leaving to work elsewhere

oh you are funny laura

'how am I going to search for work and attend interviews up and down the UK with no childcare paid for?'

well sorry love but this is your problem; not anyone else's. Certainly not the taxpayer's

You can't plan around tax credits. Honestly. You need to take responsibility for yourself

If you are going up and down the country looking for work, what will happen if you are offered a job a long way away? Can your DP move with his job?

TBH I don't think you will need c/care as often as you think. Realistically how many interviews will you get a week/ overall?

(just a word of advice. A salary of £18k for a young man with one small child is not a low income. An awful lot of families with more/ older children have to live on a awful lot less. Some of your comments may have upset some people, which is why some of the responses are a bit )

we will move, as partner can get a job anywhere to where ever i find work. was thinking of being away for 1 - 2 nights a week on interviews and then some all day too.

it's not my fault than i get 100% childcare costs at the monment. Don't we just all get what we can?

don't forget that we are also trying to save up for a house deposit

I remember starting out on a job search

god it was going to take me all my time

it doesn't. if you get a job straight away, fab

otherwise there is lots of hanging around

doing nothing

not staying overnight anywhere at all

yes but i'll need to attend interviews and they might take me 8 hours to get there

you need to get one first

yes but i'll be applying for ones all over the UK and will look into many job areas

what I'm saying is you don't know yet how much of your time it is going to take up

yoou are not due to finish till 2009 ffs

might stay on for a masters though