Childcare vouchers

[Feelthefear01]

Does anyone know anything about these. I'm due maternity leave to start in 2 months and I'm taking 52 weeks off. I've just read my Mat letter from HR saying they will pay the contribution whem I'm on SMP. Is it worth contributing now towards them, and how do they work??

Hi. You can't apply for childcare vouchers anymore as they stopped the scheme last year. You can only contribute if you already had it set up prior to that. It's now gone on to a childcare tax credits system. All info can be found on the direct.gov website.

Are you already receiving them? Entry to childcare all voucher schemes closed several months ago. If you can’t join, you can still sign up for the Government’s Tax Free Childcare scheme, which effectively gives you 20% towards fees. You won’t be able to sign up until three months before your mat leave ends, though.

helbel just to clarify - it’s not tax credits - tax free childcare is a totally different system and open to many who don’t receive tax credits.

I wish they’d named the childcare scheme something completely different as it does seem to cause confusion, which isn’t great when people need to understand what they’re eligible for and not miss out.

Thanks guys. All just go back to plan b of winning the euros.

You can still sign up to the tax free childcare scheme which saves a fair wee bit. That's what I'm doing when DS goes to nursery.

Are you already paying childcare vouchers for an existing child op?