Does everyone get child tax credit to help with nursery fees?

[alliebaba]

I'm hoping to return to work one day a week, but not sure if everyone gets help with paying for it? Do you have to earn below a certain amount?? Please help!

[PiccadillyCircus]

We don't get it. You have to earn below a certain amount (whicj we don't).

[alliebaba]

any idea how much.. money isn't great

[Bozza]

no we don't. I think you would both have to be working at least 16 hours per week to qualify and earning below whatever the limit is.

[amber5]

I do get tax credits, although they made a mess of it the first year and i ended up having to repay some. It's very complicated to work out, but if you apply they can only say no; you can't loose out. You don't both have to be working ( I still get it on career break). If you're not sure I'm sure CAB would calculate it for you.
Have you looked into whether your or your dh's employer does childcare vouchers. Basically you 'sacrifice' part of your wage which they give you in a voucher form instead and you pass on to the nursery (or other registered childcare). The benefit is that you then don't pay tax on that amount of your wage. Again mum anf dad can both do it and i think most big employers do the scheme, but you might need to ask.

[alliebaba]

thanks guys. I may ring them, although they aren't that helpful usually

[alliebaba]

thanks amber!

[Northerner]

Yes we get tax credits with the child care element. We get about £80 per month.

Mot sure what the wage limit is though, think it's about £58k

[Bozza]

northerner I think that 58K limit is for tax credits full stop but the childcare limit is much lower.

[biglips]

dont bother with the CAB as as i didnt get any help but they told me to look on the IR website so i rang IR instead and say that youre thinking about returning to work one day a week.. within 5 mins you've got an answer

[Northerner]

Oh i see Bozza. My ds is nearly 4, so a while ago when I applied. We earn nowhere near £58k btw!

[Northerner]

Tax Credits helpline: 0845 3003 900

[Mirage]

We get 9p a week towards childcare for 2 children & we earn about £32k between us.It seems that anyone who has a joint income of over 24k gets lumped into the high earners bracket of £58k.

[alliebaba]

what a pisser.. we will earn £27500 between us. how unfair. If i have to pay full child care i will earn £4 a day.

[tribpot]

I had a letter from the IR about this today. Child Tax Credit is one thing. Working Tax Credit is another. You don't get any help with childcare costs unless you qualify for Working Tax Credit. Agree with the others, give them a call, they are v helpful.

[alliebaba]

i'll try again. I looked on the calculator website thing and it said we don't qualify, but we're not exactly high earners..