Stinking childcare benefits

I went back to work earlier this year and the cost of our childcare by the end of the year will be close to £10k. We've been trying to come to terms with the changes they're doing in childcare benefits and tax credits. Today we learned that the government backed childcare vouchers scheme will actually put us in the red. I guess they don't count those towards your childcare costs so they actually think we pay £500 less a month in childcare, so we've had to pull out of that.

A handful of people at my work have had to quit because they can't afford the cost of working! We're pretty close to it but we've decided to think long term and press on.

I just don't understand how the changes are helping the working family. It's very discouraging. Feeling quite pissy about it now.

I am totally with you on this issue, it really sucks and its just going to be us lower earners who miss out. 

But, this is the exact reason why I gave up my job of 12 years two months ago, and my husband and I both feel like it was the best decision for our family. I have no advice, but unless you really need the money that you will be clearing each month, its just not worth working if you have two kids imo!!! I would only have been taking home about £200 a month, and it wasn't worth the 45 minute commute in traffic, the rushing around to make deadlines and the extra childcare.

Lucky for me I have a few friends who are SAHM's and we do get together alot and go to lots of sure start centres and babygroups, so I am pretty busy.

GOod luck!!!

(she says typing this on the sofa while her toddler daughter is watching CBeebies!!)

I really feel for you Ashley. I'm pretty sure I'd be in the same boat if I were still there and it's not any easier juggling that stuff here in the US.

I read a lot about the changes to the benefits system there and while I believe change is necessary to some degree, it doesnt' seem to be a well thought-out process.

I'm also very worried about changes to OAP benefits and those on disability as those greatly impact my former in-laws.

Good luck!

Every now and again, I go on the benefits calculator to see what DH and I would be able to claim if we had a baby.  Sadly, the result never changes.  We simply can't afford a child.  If I left work, DH's salary plus the benefits we'd qualify for wouldn't be enough to live on, and if I kept working, childcare would eat up nearly all my salary.  A government which claims to support families and to want people to work shouldn't make it impossible for both those things to exist simultaneously.  It's so frustrating, I find myself turning into one of those people who starts to froth at the mouth when they hear stories of young women having piles of kids and supporting them with benefits.  I just want one!  

That blows, Ashley.  I'm sorry. 

I just don't understand how the changes are helping the working family.

They're not.

I thought racheeeee had some good advice, although I don't watch CBeebies myself... 

I have thought about leaving my job but to be honest I don't think I could cope being a SAHM. I love my children but I need that time away from them. Plus I like my job, I'm good at it and it's a confidence builder for me.

We're just going to have to stick this one out. I'm literally working for free at the moment. All my pay is going to childcare. If they don't change the 15 free hours when the girls turn 3 then at least I'll have something to look forward to.

Welcome to working poverty!

Tell me about it Ashley.  The benefit changes suck, especially if you fall into that gap between needing them and not needing them, if that makes sense.  When I was uncertain about whether or not I'd have a job to go back to, we figured it out that if I did loose my job we would be slightly better off on benefits. 

I've done the calculator again and they say I'm due one thing, but keep paying me something else (and keep reducing that.) We are lucky in that my husband works from home so he is home with the baby during the day while I'm at work and then I come home and he starts to work.  I can't imagine trying to afford childcare.

Can you work from home a couple of days a week? (I know, that doesn't mean you'll get a lot done with 2 little ones...) or maybe not quit your job entirely, but go down to part time? That would reduce the days you have to use day care (but also reduce your income...)

Good luck.

This subject scares me to death.  While I do work PT and DH works FT (away) and when/if we have a child how do you manage it.  I work from home but I would like to work at an outside job but I am keeping my current job only so if/when we get preggo I can still have an income from home.

Ashley - I feel you as I dont want to work just to pay child care but in the states it would be much higher for child care. Not sure how we will afford a bigger house and child care but then again when can anyone really say yeah let's throw X amount money to child care we dont need it.

Huggs to those who are feeling the pinch!

Can you work from home a couple of days a week? (I know, that doesn't mean you'll get a lot done with 2 little ones...) or maybe not quit your job entirely, but go down to part time? That would reduce the days you have to use day care (but also reduce your income...)

Good luck.

I couldn't work from home. The girls really do take a ton of my attention and I wouldn't get anything done from home. I'm only working 3 days a week. I couldn't work any more or any less because it would actually hurt us either way. 3 days, with only 3/5 of my wage, seems to put us even.

I actually wish we were closer to my inlaws (ick!). They live about an hour away and it's just too far for them to travel back and forth. Even a day of their help would help us enormously.