Tax Credits

Help with childcare costs

Who gets it?
You may be able to get extra WTC to help with the cost of childcare if:

• you are a single parent working, or treated as working, at least 16 hours a week; you live in a couple where each of you works, or is treated as working, at least 16 hours a week; or one of you is disabled, and
• you pay for registered childcare (e.g. a childminder, nursery, playscheme or out-of-school club)

If you qualify you can get extra WTC which will pay for up to 70 per cent of your childcare costs up to a maximum cost of £135 for one child or £200 for two or more children. This means that the childcare tax credit is worth up to £94.50 a week (one child) or £140 a week (two or more children).

How to apply
Contact the Tax Credits helpline on 0845 300 3900 for more information or to ask for an application form, or log on to the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits

Anything else?
If you get WFTC Child Tax Credit of at lease the family element of £10.45 per week (£20.90 if you have a baby under one) you may also be able to claim a £200 Sure Start Maternity Grant. To apply for the grant, you need to complete an SF100 application form and send it into your JobCentre Plus within three months of the birth of your baby. If you are not sure if you qualify, apply anyway.

For more information about benefits and tax credits see the Maternity Alliance website.

For details of publications, leaflets and information packs contact The Maternity Alliance office:

THE MATERNITY ALLIANCE
2-6 Northburgh Street
London EC1V 0AY
Information line: 020 7490 7638