Why is it that my husband, who works for a largeish company, can claim a voucher for childcare, when I cant working for a smaller local business? My employer cant afford to run the voucher scheme as he cant afford to pay vouchers for women on maternity leave (and he employs 8 women, 5 of child-bearing age) when they aren't earning income for the business. Fair enough. But why does the government only give a tax credit this way to those just above the working tax credits threshold? Why penalise me for busting a gut working for a smaller company when these are the lifeblood of the economy (and where large company perks are mostly absent)? SURELY the government can stop discriminating against women employed by smaller companies and give them a different kind of tax break e.g. at source, for childcare? My unemployed, unmarried step-daughter (mother of one) living on benefits gets far more tax encouragement in returning to work. Why should I bother?