Childcare vouchers

[Poosnu]

I am about to go on maternity leave having been employed for more than a year. I receive £243 per month in computershare childcare vouchers by way of salary sacrifice.

My employer says that the voucher scheme does not permit them to continue to pay vouchers beyond the initial smp period of full (90%) pay.

Is this correct? My previous employer continued to pay them in full throughout maternity leave.

I have seen some gov.uk guidance that states that non cash benefits including childcare vouchers must continue to be paid. However (from a quick google) kiddicare voucher scheme has a detailed note on why stopping vouchers when there is no salary to sacrifice is not in fact discriminatory and advises employers that it is not necessary.

Does anyone have up to date knowledge on this?

www.kiddivouchers.com/pdfs/Childcare

Link to kiddicare employers guide.

Your employer is probably following the recent caselaw on this as it was reconsidered by the employment judges and they did decide that there is no way the legislation could of meant that employers became liable for the costs of the vouchers on maternity leave and that it had been misinterpreted. It Is just one piece of caselaw but some employers will be using it to change their approach to these benefits. Mine hasn't but because I have a car allowance they would deduct the value of the vouchers from that anyway so I've had to cancel them.