childcare help.. does this sound right?

[BellaBoo0512]

I've just been offered a 6 week part time job in a hospital in the next town doing admin work. It is to start next week and I will be working 25 hours Mon- Fri 12pm-5pm. The salary is £7ph which is about £170 a week.

I have just been on HMRC tax credits calculator based on last years salary of £14,500 (me and oh). It says that we will get around £194 a week tax credits although nursery fees are £150 a week.

Basically we will be around £80 a week better off compared to me now, out of work. It just sounds too much considering I will only be working part time?

 

[Pearls18]

Always call to be sure but with that income you'll be getting child tax credits as well as working tax credits.

Congrats

 

[BellaBoo0512]

The last time I rang he just went through the online calculator with me so that's what I did it doesn't sound right that we will have so much left over after paying childcare costs though

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Do you have any idea if there's anywhere I can get any help with childcare costs until my child tax credits come through? The nursery want £300 which is 2 weeks up front but I won't get paid for 2 weeks and only get my child tax credits the second week of the month and we can't afford the £300 out of hubby's wages

 

[Pearls18]

Sorry hun no this is always the dilemma, I will have to dip into savings when I return to work. I believe some people talk to the nursery explaining the situation agreeing to a compromise.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Unfortunately me and oh don't have any savings I'll give the nursery a call tomorrow and see what they say but they told me twice that they need fees upfront. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for tax credits to be amended? I'm really worried now that I will have to turn the job down x

 

[Pearls18]

I can't remember sorry hun, I know you can't tell tax credits until the day you start the job which is the biggest pain.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Aww that's not good you would think they would have something in place for these kind of situations x

 

[ArcaneSpark]

Could you ask the bank for a short term over draft?

 

[BellaBoo0512]

I have a bad credit history from when I was younger so I don't think that would be an option. I ended up having to turn the job down in the end, I asked the agency if I could have another week to sort childcare arrangements out and they said that if I couldn't start on Tuesday they would have to offer the job to somebody else.

 

[mummyfin]

I think you would have ended up worse off or just the same anyway, best way to check is instead of using the online calculator with last year's figures (the £14,500 or whatever) put in what you would both be making with you working, then you'll see what you're actually entitled to and not end up having loads to pay back

 

[BellaBoo0512]

I thought that hun but because it was a temporary job and I don't know how long I would of worked there I don't know what my annual earnings would be iykwim?

Hopefully something comes along soon. Getting so fed up now

 

[mummyfin]

Ahh I see what you mean, you might end up getting less than you'd be entitled to if you're only there a few months. I stopped working when I was preg with DD and we ended up getting a cheque for just over £1000 at the end of the tax year. I know what you mean, it's not easy both of you working when you have to pay for childcare!