Sodexo vouchers

[MulderitsmeX]

I'm due to leave for mat leave with dc2 in a few months. I probably won't return to work for at least a while

Dh can collect sodexo vouchers through the voucher system but obviously can't opt Back in if he opts out.

If he opts out and I go back to work eventually I'm not sure we will be eligible for the new system.

I was initially thinking to just have DH collect vouchers and I can use them for after school care In a few years but heard that althugh you can now renew them, sodexo vouchers did used to expire So I'm nervous that might happen again.

I'm currently thinking to have him lower his contributions to stay I the scheme but not have loads build that I will be worried might expire.

My work offer the care4 scheme which seems much easier!

I would look into eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare so you can confirm that you are or are not eligible. If DH or you earn over £100,000 gross annual then you are not eligible.

You mention that your work offers Care4 vouchers but don't say if you are in that scheme yourself. Both parents getting vouchers with one child, vouchers can often be better than Tax-Free Childcare but it starts to swing when you have two children, or if one parent does not get vouchers. So if you have two children and only DH getting vouchers, I would wonder if TFC worked out better, as long as you were eligible.

Summer holidays: Some holiday clubs take vouchers. PGL comes to mind but there are others. Don't know how old your eldest child is so this may not be relevant but something to look at.

They do expire but last for a few years. Some of mine were about to expire last year so I sent DD to PGL and paid the lot with vouchers.

The old scheme lets you pay for childcare for teens. The new one ends at 11. In my case I will need holiday care until DD is at least 14 so the old scheme is better. But I only have one child to pay for.

Thanks guys
Seems like we're not eligible for tax free childcare atm.
Yes sorry i wasn't clear I am in the care4 scheme but I will most likely become a sahm from Sept 2020 so will leave the scheme.

I might have DH make low contributions and use them for ad hoc nursery, it's annoying as I'll definitely want to use the vouchers if I go back to work sometime!