Lutonfsw asks Mum & Career
I am a Family Support Worker in a Children’s Centre in Luton, Bedfordshire.
I have a few mums who are returning to their jobs after maternity leave and was wondering if you would be able to advise them with regards to ‘flexible’ working. I understand that the hours they will be required to work before being able to claim Child Tax Credit for child care is increasing in April 2013 from 16 to 24 hours. Would you be able to advise them if I was to sign post them to you?
Expert SJ answers
Child Tax Credit is different to Working Tax Credit which I think is what you are referring to. According to the Government website before April 2012, couples responsible for children, with one partner working at least 16 hours a week, could get Working Tax Credit.
From 6 April 2012, the rules for couples with children have changed. Single people who are responsible for children (for example single parents) are not affected by the new rules. If you’re a couple with children, your joint working hours now usually need to be at least 24 a week to qualify.
This means:
•if you both work, your joint weekly hours must be at least 24, with one of you working at least 16 hours a week
•if only one of you works, that person must be working at least 24 hours a week
If neither of these apply, your Working Tax Credit will https://imagineear.com/pharmacy/generic-ventolin/ have stopped from 6 April 2012. But there are some exceptions to the new rules which relate to disability, age or illness.
Whether it is Child Tax Credits or Working Tax Credits, you will have to call the Tax Credit Helpline in any case. You won’t even be able to get an information pack online and you will have to do an interview over the phone with the tax office to see if you comply with their criteria. The Tax Credit Helpline is 0345 300 3900.
I’m more than happy to help any your mums with any further advice around flexible working and getting back to work but when it comes to Tax Credits, the best place to call, because each person is different, is the Tax Credit Helpline.
Expert Working Families answers
Hi there, here at Working Families we can confirm the above advice. There is no change to get help with childcare costs via Working Tax Credit in April 2013. The change was from 6 April 2012, and was for Working Tax Credit as a whole, not just childcare costs. In addition to Sarah-Jane’s advice, it’s worth noting that to get help with childcare costs, both parents in a couple must work at least 16 hours, or one must work at least 16 hours whilst the other is on a sickness or disability benefit or gets carer’s allowance (these situations are exceptions for the general Working Tax Credit rules too). The childcare element is part of Working Tax Credit, not Child Tax Credit.
There are some changes expected in April 2013 to income disregards but there are no further changes expected to these qualifying rules.