Childcare vouchers whilst on SMP ?

[joanne34]

Hi All,

I just wondered whether anyone has a strong understanding of this ?
I was told today by a lady who has just come back from Maternity leave, that she signed up to the childcare voucher non-cash salary sacrifice scheme at work before she went on maternity leave with her DC2.

She said she received full SMP, plus the Vouchers ontop.... of which these she could use on childcare for DC1 or like she did, save them up for DC2 once she'd returned to work.

Apparently, these should not affect your SMP, and not be deducted from the SMP.
Does anyone else have secure evidence of this ?
Plus did it affect your NI and TAX, therefore reducing the SMP amount ?

I have 4 weeks to get this all sorted.... if its true its a fantastic idea, as I dont have childcare vouchers for DC1 at the moment, but I need to get signed up ASAP...

Thanks

ok thanks - i won't be needing one I think as HR came back to me saying that the Intranet should be updated and that yes I will still receive my childcare vouchers!
Great!

Excellent!

Wow thanks for this thread I have another twist on the OP's and tosatky's questions...

My company mat pay is 6 weeks full pay then the rest of the year 1/2 salary (very generous I know!) I also get a flexible benefits allowance which I recieve 6 weeks full allowance then it goes to half the allowance for the rest of my maternity leave...

The only thing reason you can change these flexible benefits is a life changing event i.e. birth/death/marriage (I think?) and a change in childcare circumstances...

So far so good....however I get £250 a month of child care vouchers through this flexible benefits scheme (my other options I take are JL vouches - saving for a new tv , and private medical for my daughter - as I get it through work for me!) so will I still be able to get the £250 "free" as it were without it impacting my flexible benefits? I'm pretty sure as its a flexible benefit I won't be able to but got to be worth asking someone here in the know!!

Anyone wondering why did this not happen when I was off (like me!) the law changeed in April 2008