Working tax credits -
childcare element

You may be able to get Tax Credits to help with the cost of childcare while you are working. You’ll need to be working at least 16 hours a week, although it’s possible you could still qualify as long as you were working the same amount before you went on maternity leave.

How much could I receive?
You can actually receive up to 80% of the cost of your childcare, up to a maximum of £175 a week, if you have one child. This increases to £300 a week if you have two or more children. The exact amount depends on your income, the lower it is the more you’ll receive. However, if you claim Childcare Vouchers from your employer the value of the vouchers you receive will be taken off the amount you can claim through Working Tax Credits.  E.g. if you claim the full £243 per month vouchers from your employer, the monthly amount of childcare help you can claim through Working Tax Credits reduces by this amount.

It's useful to work out which will give you the greater benefits as it's not always beneficial to take vouchers.  As a general rule if you earn under £25k per year you're probably better only using tax credits, but if you earn over £35k per year you're probably better off taking vouchers.  What type of childcare qualifies?
They must be a Government registered or approved childcare provider and could be a childminder or nursery. The following bodies register childcare providers in the UK.

• Ofsted in England
• The Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales
• The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care
• A Health and Social Services Board or Trust in Northern Ireland