I’m on maternity leave with DC 2 (3 months old). My older DC 1 is 2.5 years and goes to nursery 2 days a week because prior to DC 2 I was working.
we use the tax free childcare scheme/account to pay Dc 1 nursery fees. It’s time to reconfirm our details and I’m no longer working, but on mat leave which is an option you can select. I’ve seen info on childcarechoices.org etc that says you can still claim the tax free childcare if on maternity leave, for the older child (not the baby you’re on Mat leave for, obviously). So I was just going to click on Mat leave.
however a friend has supposedly done this and been told she no longer qualifies for the tax free childcare, reason being she’s on Mat leave.
so does that mean you can’t claim it?! Seems bizarre that families with 2 children would have to either pay full nursery fees alone for a 9-12month period whilst earning less (mat leave pay) Or pull the older child out of nursery only to then put them back in once you return to work after 9/12 months.
confusing hey?! I swear the govt make is so complicated so you end up not bothering.
does any one know if you can use it for the older/other children whilst on Mat leave with a second/third etc