Can someone explain the child care vouchers please -

[ScoobyDoo]

Really want to go back to work soon but have dd who is 2 in a week.

Can't go back full-time but want to do part time.

Can someone please explain the child care vouchers, few questions below -

• How many working hours do you have to do to qualify?

• Can you claim them where ever you work or do only certain work places do them?

• If only certain work places do them, can you claim any child care cost at all on the places that don't do the coucher scheme?

• How much do they pay upto for part-time & full-time workers?

Is it worth it or should i forget it & not work at all?

Arrgghhh so many questions.

TIA

You sacrifice part of your salary before tax which you can then use to pay your child carer. The child carer needs to be approved. We have just done all of this. Go to www.childcarevouchers.co.uk

and good luck (my costs have gone down from using these vouchers by 40%).

Thanks megan off to look at that website.

So it gets taken from your salary before they take the tax off, then they take tax off your remaining salary?

Was just reading & have another question, so if both parents work can you both claim them?

Yes scobby you can claimup to a certain amount per week/month. A lot of the parents at my nursery pay £243 pm in vouchers each then top up any extra by cheque or STO. Depends on your employer though as it seems only bigger companies do it.

sorry SCOOBY !!

Thanks that helps me, it all just seems so confusing so if you don't work for a big company & your company don't do the vouchers does that mean you can't get any help? is there any help through working family tax credits? do they help with childcare if your company don't do the vouchers?

Yes you can both claim them - which does have benefits in that you only get about £50/week tax free - so if you need more than £50 per week then split it between you and your partner to get the max tax benefit.

I can't remember if you save NI too.

You can have whatever value you want (up to your max salary).

Depending on how much you want to take you may find you are better off not having childcare vouchers but having the tax credits instead. Any childcare you pay for in vouchers you can't claim tax credits for.
To work out which is better go to the tax credits website and use their calculator to see which way you would be better off.

Yes tax credits, as I say I am actually better off with tax credits than I am with childcare vouchers.

Thanks slightlymadshrek the entitled2.com sight is down so can't use that is there another site anywhere?

Yes....hang on will find a link

here is the official tax credits calculator

entitledto.co.uk is working for me....

Oh think i was putting .com will go try now