Deduction from SMP, help!

[WidowWadman]

Apologies for starting a new thread, but the last one's title (How much time do I give them) is a little bit non informative.

I've just dropped down from CMP to SMP and they have deducted childcare vouchers from me. I've queried this and got the following reply.

"The sacrifice & repayment elements have to stop when she goes onto SMP only (because you cannot sacrifice salary if your pay is below a certain limit). As per below this has been stopped for widowwadman.

2. Payment into her childcare voucher provider account account

The childcare voucher deductions which are paid over to childcare voucher provider on her behalf continue as long as her net pay is enough so that the deduction can be taken. As per below this has continued for widowwadman.

If she wants the childcare voucher deduction (i.e. no payments made to her childcare voucher provider account) stopped when she goes onto SMP only, she'd need to instruct childcare voucher provider to instruct us to cease the payments."

Surely it can't be down to me, can it? I'm not working for an SME, quite the opposite.

I want to respond to it, but am worried about hitting the wrong tone, not getting it right.

A few more emails, phonecalls, HMRC involvement and them taking ages to get legal guidance later, I've just got a phonecall that I'm indeed correct and they will reimburse me for the wrong deduction and continue to supply vouchers. I'm waiting until I've got my money back in my bank account before breathing a sigh of relief, though.

I'm thoroughly unimpressed with how the case has been handled, but at least it's sorted now. Thanks a million for your help Flowery and Katie x

Hurrah! Well done WW. Always nice to hear some good news over here

Sorry to gatecrash, and glad you got it sorted out - there's a few references on here to contractual benefits having to be left in place through mat, would this include a company car? At the moment it is fully expensed and although I wouldn't expect them to contue paying all my fuel if I was off (?), I just need some reassurance they can't take the car off me!

'continue'

Yes if it's a contractual benefit you should still get the car. I'm on phone so can't do links but HMRC cover this thoroughly and DirectGov website explains it very simply. Google benefits, maternity leave and car with one of those organisations to get more info.

fab thank you!