Hi all,

I am happily on mat leave at the mo-and will prob be off for the full year until nov when i have to -and actually want to go back. I never thought i would want to go back but am actually looking forward to it.

I was working f-t before and bringing home around 1400 per month. I think when i go back i will go down to 3 days-my mum will have bubs 2 days per week and we will use a nursery one day per week (at a cost of approx £50 per day). So around £200 per month will go on childcare.will i be able to claim CTC/WTC?

Has anyone else been trying to work out how much they will get on p-t hours? If i do 3 days per week for example how much will i be bringing home? Does any one do longer days to fit in more hours? And is there a certain number of hours which is best to try to be able to claim more CTC too?

Wish i coudl get an idea of income so i could best work out our financial situ-for example would io be better of working 3 days a week and using nursery once-or would i be best off just working 2 days a week and not having to pay for childcare?

Thanks

I know exactly what you mean as I am trying to work this out too. I was originally working part time but got taken on full time 2 months before I had LO so I am hoping they will let me go back part time, or job share. Would be good to know beforehand though how it affects CTC/WTC etc.

Its really confusing how they work out CTC and WTC. everyone on here seems to give different answers. It depends on what you earned last year and what your gonna be earning. You will need to contact them and ask them. They will be able to give you accurate answers. I no you do get WTC to cover around 70% of childcare, but im not sure if you have to earn a certain amount or pay out a certain amount. You would also get CTC but agagin this varys on income. There are online calculators you can use buit it seems that some people get more than the amounts given and some dont get any when its says they will. Also with CTC if your gonna be earning less this year than last year they will takie that into consideration. Best advise would be to phone them. I will be looking into this as well. My oh works anyway but im not sure if i would be worse ior better off working part time. we would have to pay for childcare for all the hours.

Im the same coz I want to go back part time but only if its worth it!!
I dont know how accurate the online Tax Credit calculator is but that is what I am gona use when I come to working it out.
My boss worked out that his family would only be £100 or so worse off if he packed in his job and just let his wife work part time,and then he would get to spend more time with his kids,but they dont use childcare so his situation is a bit easier to work out.lol

Dont rely on the calculator hun, what i have heard is some people get less than whats on there and others get more. Plus with CTC if you are gonna be earnig less in the following year they will count that but you cant do that on the calculator. Your better of ringing them or seeing them a bit nearer the time.

Is the directGOV calculator inaccurate too?and I thought that included the CTC part anyway?!

Yeah. They only ask rough questions rather than individual circiumstances. Im sure its right for some people and obviously try it if you want to. All i want to say it dont go planning or not planning on going back to work based on the calculator as i do no of people that got some when they where told they would, some who got more than it said and some that got less. Plus i have done a few different ones and you get different answers.