Nursery voucher /maternity pay induced headache - any advice?

[chirpyburpycheapsheep]

I'm 15 weeks pg & currently getting nursery vouchers (through the delightful Computershare) for DD1. When do I need to cancel the vouchers in order that the deduction from my pay won't affect the amount of maternity pay I get?

I rang computershare to ask & they helpfully said they don't give advice relating to maternity leave/pay, my HR department were similarly clueless & the childcare co-ordinator for my employer seems to have been permanently replaced with an answerphone - just a bit concerned I'm leaving it too late. Or is it the case that it doesn't make all that much difference financially in the long run?

Any advice gratefully received!

[Ceebee74]

Hi

The simple answer to your question is that your maternity pay is calculated using your average earnings between 17-25 weeks of your pregnancy.

However, I don't know if you are aware but you will still be able to claim your vouchers throughout your maternity leave - and when you go to just SMP, they cannot be deducted from that therefore you technically receive them for 'free'.

But, ime, most organisations will not let you stop your vouchers to maximise your maternity pay and then restart them again after 25 weeks and also claim them throughout your maternity leave as this is gaining a 'double' benefit so it may actually be more beneficial for you to have your maternity pay slightly reduced by continuing to receive your vouchers throughout the qualifying period but receive x months worth whilst on maternity leave.

[chirpyburpycheapsheep]

Thank you! Technically receiving them 'free' when on SMP - how does that work when you just get SMP? If I'm not getting any OMP at that point presumably the vouchers then stop as there is no pay for them to be deducted from & then they resume when I return to work & my pay is then sufficient for the deduction to be made? Or do you carry on getting them anyway?

Sorry if I'm being thick!

[Ceebee74]

No, you continue to receive them throughout your maternity leave (assuming you want to)but as you don't have any salary to deduct them from, your company has to pay for them instead

[chirpyburpycheapsheep]

Tidy