Does anyone know much about this?

Does it just last a year or is it ongoing?
I know the amount you can claim differs on how much you earn, but how much of a difference is there?
Is there a table/ scale to measure?
What about if you work inconsistent hours,say 30 one week and 43 the next?

Each claim lasts a year -- towards the end they send a renewal form so that you can start a claim for the next year.

AFAIK if your earnings differ week to week you need to average out what you expect to earn. The whole totals will be checked towards the end of the financial year to make sure they haven't over or under paid you.

Best bet is go to the HMRC website where they have all the gen.  The various online calculators all give different answers (and all say more than HMRC actually give you !! ).

if i remember rightly they ask if you work 30 hours or more and your last years figure earned also if you think you will earn more the next year or less,if you think your gonna earn more they give you less so that they dont overpay you plus if your married or live with someone you have to claim as a joint income.could be wrong but i think thats how it goes

Just like any government benefit/relief, unless your income (that includes combined income if your old lady has to work) amounts to f**k all (or just over) then you qualify for nowt at all (nothing surprising there really).

Martin Imber wrote on 06. Dec 2009 at 10:44:


This is one basic premis that really confuses me ( easy I know) -- but ... why the hell do the benefits people say you need, say, £200 per week to live on, yet they tax you at £150 --- then pay another department to pay some back in benefits because you actually needed that amount in the first place!!!

Wouldn't it be far better ( and cheaper) to decide an across the board amount (obviously adjustable for individual circs) required as a minimum and not tax you below that figure, just to have to give it back !!!???

Does that lot make sense, or am I just jabbering again ??

Martin Imber wrote on 06. Dec 2009 at 10:50:


We get some credits towards child care only (apparently we earn too much for any others -- though I disagree!). Up to now they have been relatively straightforward. But next year Little Count gets some free care paid by the LA.

Works out as 15 hours per week --- but .... paid in three "terms"; two of 11 weeks and one of 15 weeks. In reality we get the 15 hours over only 37 weeks. So really around 10.6 hours per week over the whole year.

Fortunately HMRC have agreed to use the average figures, rather than keep changing the amounts payable as the monthly invoice from nursery will change!!

Have to wait and see whhat the figures turn out to be, but my guess is that the "free" hours will come out of the tax credits and I will still be stumping up the same as I ever was from my pocket!

Martin Imber wrote on 06. Dec 2009 at 10:50:


There is a big advantage if you can claim both working tax credit and child tax credit....you get free nhs prescriptions. Just working tax credit doesnt get it.
Useful if your on permanent medication.

Taxi Driver wrote on 06. Dec 2009 at 17:49:


Certain medical conditions automatically get you free prescriptions anyway. SWMBO has a thyroid disorder and has been told she'll be exempt from prescription charges for life!