Tax Free Childcare - reconfirmation and maternity leave

[JabNotInArm]

I'm currently on maternity leave but paying into an existing tax free childcare account for my eldest child. I'm due to reconfirm my details and this is the first time since going on maternity leave I've had to do it. This question under the Household Income section has thrown me:

"Will you earn at least £142.56 a week, before tax, for the next 3 months?"

I will because of enhanced maternity pay so I initially left the answer as "yes" however the blurb has thrown me:

"It doesn't matter if you don't expect to earn this amount in any weeks you're on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, Carer's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance. If you expect to be on these for the next three months select no and continue with your application"

This to me implies that I should answer "no" irrespective of whether I'm earning over that amount or not. Is that correct?

Bump!

It doesn’t matter, either option would be fine

I think you should answer yes, since that's factually correct according to your current situation. I think the text you've quoted is there to reassure people who are on mat leave but earning less than the cut-off that they will still be eligible for TFC.

Some people on maternity leave do not receive the £162/week, if their earnings are lower than the threshold they receive 90% of their wage, which may be lower - this statement is aimed at those people who are earning under the SMP amounts.