Childcare Vouchers during Maternity Leave

[Future-Sailor]

Looking for some clarification.....

Is anyone currently (or in the past) receiving childcare vouchers via salary sacrifies during their maternity leave?

I'm due to go on maternity leave in April. Currently I'm receiving £243 childcare vouchers which is deducted from my gross monthly income.

When I staft my leave I understand that I will continue to receive the vouchers which will be deducted from my salary during the first 6 weeks. For the following 33 weeks I will receive the minimum £138 per week. However the childcare vouchers cannot be deducted from this money. So will I still be elegible to receive them? From what I read only I understand that I will but I doubt that a salary sacrifice scheme can carry on in the absence of an actual salary.

Please help - so confused...

 

[Abz1982]

Yes. They cannot deduct anything from SMP bar tax and NI. so you will recieve SMP plus vouchers. This is what I did when I was on leave.

 

[Future-Sailor]

I've just been told by HR that the vouchers will be deducted from my SMP

 

[Clairikins]

They can't deduct from smp but you should still receive them. I currently am x

 

[Clairikins]

https://vouchers.employersforchildc...vouchers during maternity leave (parents).pdf

Have a look at this link x

 

[Future-Sailor]

https://vouchers.employersforchildc...vouchers during maternity leave (parents).pdf

Have a look at this link x

Thanks for this! I have sent to HR. Awaiting response now.

 

[leash27]

I am currently on Maternity Leave and my employer has covered the cost of my Childcare Vouchers whilst I have been on SMP. I was surprised actually because I work for quite a big company (over 13k employees) and I was the first person to speak to HR about how this would work. I expect most employers would not want to advertise the fact that they would foot the bill in the hope that women may just cancel their CCV for the duration of their Maternity Leave.

X

 

[Future-Sailor]

I am currently on Maternity Leave and my employer has covered the cost of my Childcare Vouchers whilst I have been on SMP. I was surprised actually because I work for quite a big company (over 13k employees) and I was the first person to speak to HR about how this would work. I expect most employers would not want to advertise the fact that they would foot the bill in the hope that women may just cancel their CCV for the duration of their Maternity Leave.

X

Thanks for your reply. I really hope that my employer will cover the cost as well....so far not heard back from HR.

When you spoke to your HR did they confirm this to you before you went on maternity leave?

 

[ArcaneSpark]

Mine automatically covered the cost! Hope you get it worked out! X

 

[Abz1982]

I am pretty sure that if its not an in house scheme legally they HAVE to cover them.

 

[leash27]

I am currently on Maternity Leave and my employer has covered the cost of my Childcare Vouchers whilst I have been on SMP. I was surprised actually because I work for quite a big company (over 13k employees) and I was the first person to speak to HR about how this would work. I expect most employers would not want to advertise the fact that they would foot the bill in the hope that women may just cancel their CCV for the duration of their Maternity Leave.

X

Thanks for your reply. I really hope that my employer will cover the cost as well....so far not heard back from HR.

When you spoke to your HR did they confirm this to you before you went on maternity leave?

Yes they did. I enquired via email so that when they replied, I had it in writing and I saved the email just in case they tried to wriggle out of it when the time came. My HR advisor had to put a note on the payroll system in order to ensure I wasn't deducted as she said they way it is set up, they would automatically have taken it.

From the research I did, it seems unclear whether they would be legally bound to pay for them but if they didn't I guess it could be considered discrimination.

X

 

[Abz1982]

I am currently on Maternity Leave and my employer has covered the cost of my Childcare Vouchers whilst I have been on SMP. I was surprised actually because I work for quite a big company (over 13k employees) and I was the first person to speak to HR about how this would work. I expect most employers would not want to advertise the fact that they would foot the bill in the hope that women may just cancel their CCV for the duration of their Maternity Leave.

X

Thanks for your reply. I really hope that my employer will cover the cost as well....so far not heard back from HR.

When you spoke to your HR did they confirm this to you before you went on maternity leave?

Yes they did. I enquired via email so that when they replied, I had it in writing and I saved the email just in case they tried to wriggle out of it when the time came. My HR advisor had to put a note on the payroll system in order to ensure I wasn't deducted as she said they way it is set up, they would automatically have taken it.

From the research I did, it seems unclear whether they would be legally bound to pay for them but if they didn't I guess it could be considered discrimination.

X

I would have SMP............VOUCHER DEDUCTION........then they ADDED the voucher amount again as if they couldnt stop it coming off,but have to give the funds back.

You most definitely, legally are entitled to your vouchers whilst on SMP.I had 2 HR people,including the HR manager going on maternity leave and they were claiming them to so had looked it up.

 

[Future-Sailor]

Thanks everyone! I'm still waiting for a written response from HR

I'm so frustrated!

 

[Abz1982]

When did you ask them? I would be giving ACAS a call if I was you and asking them what the time frames are for a response. As I thought they had to inform you of certain things X weeks befor eyour leave etc etc...

 

[Future-Sailor]

When did you ask them? I would be giving ACAS a call if I was you and asking them what the time frames are for a response. As I thought they had to inform you of certain things X weeks befor eyour leave etc etc...

I initially contacted HR on 7th Jan and then chased on 11 Feb.