Childcare Vouchers: Important Information for Parents January 2021

Take action now to continue to save money on your childcare

Last year some parents paused payments into their Childcare Voucher account if they weren't using childcare, or their provider was temporarily closed, as a result of Covid-19.

REMEMBER: if this applies to you, and you would like to remain eligible for Childcare Vouchers in the future, you need to make a payment into your account within 52 weeks of your last payment. The money must actually come out of your salary before the 52 weeks have elapsed (it's not enough to have simply requested a payment). For many people, this will mean if you last paid into your account in March 2020, you must have made another payment from February’s pay. This may take some time, so take action today.

You do not need to be currently using childcare in order to make payments into your Childcare Voucher account – these can be banked for future use and used to pay for ALL FORMS OF REGISTERED CHILDCARE including some holiday schemes and breakfast clubs.

For any queries regarding Childcare Vouchers, contact Employers For Childcare on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org

Backdating Childcare Vouchers

If you didn’t use your full annual allowance of Childcare Vouchers in the 2020-21 tax year (eg because your childcare provider closed for a time and you paused making payments into your account or because you were on furlough), you may be able to ‘backdate’ your Childcare Vouchers over the remaining months of the tax year, to make the most of the savings the Childcare Voucher scheme offers.

Find out more about how backdating works here or give us a call on 028 9267 8200.

For personalised support and guidance on Childcare Vouchers or any other form of financial support your family may be entitled to (eg Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare), call the Family Benefits Advice Service on Freephone 0800 028 3008