Childcare Vouchers: cut childcare costs by £1,000/year Discussion Area

Paparika

shfu wrote: »

Hi, Hoping somebody knows the answer to this please...!

We currently use the voucher scheme to pay nursery fees. Our little one is 3 so entitled to 30 hours free childcare. I reconfirmed our details yesterday (as your supposed to every 3 months) but today I received an email saying thanks for signing up to a Tax-Free Childcare account and that our account is ready to use. I never signed up to this as we don't want to swap!! Are you automatically signed up to an account with the 30 free hours? I never noticed it on my Gov account before when I've reconfirmed?? Hoping it doesn't affect our use of the voucher scheme..!

Ring the TFC up and tell them you didn't and cancel it.
But i can tell you now, you did sign up for it, you just didn't know it.

It's very sneaky, you sign up for 30 hours, go to far and you've signed up to TFC, a lot of parents have complained that TFC website is misleading parents into 30 hours free and then insisting on the TFC.

you have a right to complain, do so.

For those not aware you can have vouchers and 30/15 hours free. There is an error on the gov website when you do your 3 months check in that tells you that you cannot have both. Truth is you can.

Paparika

JackRussell wrote: »

@Paprika - I dont think it's a case of everyone leaving it to the last minute, for some such as myself, its the fact that our circumstance have changed considerably (extra child, redundancy, re-employment, now HR).

Surely out there, is a site where you type in your details and it says "Option one is best"? I took a look and the link but there still isnt a definitive answer. They look at scenarios which you can't use to make such an important decision.

Yes it's frustrating, no one can tell you which one will be better, I can only advise from the voucher side...

Voucher valid until the September after your child's 16th Birthday TFC doesn't go to 16 unless the child is disabled.

You can spend your vouchers on any childcare as long as they are government registered (Ofsted, Edubase as examples) nanny's, nursery, after school clubs, breakfast clubs, summer clubs and loads more and they of course must be registered with the voucher companies.

TFC say you can only use payments for your working time, not in your holiday time or weekends etc

Vouchers can be banked you don't have to spend them for years if you didn't want to.
TFC if you don't use it you will loose it.


Maybe if someone on here has inside info on the benefits of TFC can comment then it would make this a fair comparison.

michaelbradley

Hi Can someone provide any guidance..

Me and gf currently get maximum amount of vouchers. I am due to start new job mid april so wont be able to join their voucher scheme. Does gf have to stop claiming vouchers so that I can then put application in for the new scheme. If so when does that have to happen - is it once application is confirmed? Or would it be better having one parent claim the vouchers and myself just paying balance in cash. We are both working, have monthly childcare cost of approx 500 with one child, normal rate tax payers. Thanks for any help.

[Deleted User]

Does anyone know, is there a time-limit or expiry on tax-free childcare? Do you have to spend within a certain time of making the payment in?

We are due any day, and keen to accumulate either vouchers, or money in TFC account during my maternity leave (to spend when I am back at work). This option is possible for vouchers, but I am not sure about Tax-free childcare.

kittyboo18

Hi

I recently signed up for childcare vouchers by sending a form to my payroll - I now need to sign my husband up too but can’t find the form. Could someone please point me in the right direction.

Thank you
Catherine

Paparika

kittyboo18 wrote: »

Hi

I recently signed up for childcare vouchers by sending a form to my payroll - I now need to sign my husband up too but can’t find the form. Could someone please point me in the right direction.

Thank you
Catherine

First find out who your husbands childcare vouchers are with you can then go to their website and create an account

Hazzmo

I am currently in the childcare voucher scheme at work, however my husbands employer (small farm) does not offer childcare vouchers.
Am I allowed to stay in the childcare voucher scheme and sign my husband up to Tax-Free Childcare? Or do we both have to go to Tax-Free Childcare?

Paparika

Hazzmo wrote: »

I am currently in the childcare voucher scheme at work, however my husbands employer (small farm) does not offer childcare vouchers.
Am I allowed to stay in the childcare voucher scheme and sign my husband up to Tax-Free Childcare? Or do we both have to go to Tax-Free Childcare?

No you will both have to go over.

Torque_Controller

My kids are now too old for nursery childcare and not interested in holiday clubs but I have a large amount of vouchers in my account. Can I donate them and if so, can this be to a secondary school (which probably doesn't run a nursery group?)

I no longer work for the company I originally got the vouchers through so there is no refund option.

andyp200

Hello,

I am soon to become a Dad and am already racking my brains about how best to tackle childcare costs. I understand that you cannot collect vouchers whilst also receiving the tax benefit scheme, but was wondering if it was possible/ advisable to start collecting the vouchers from birth and then use them when I send our child to nursery at about 9 months. If I were then to stop collecting via the scheme would I be able to move over to the tax credit 20% off whilst paying the remaining cost in part with the vouchers previously accrued.

I.e is there any way to use vouchers previously earned whilst benefitting from the new scheme? If not, I think I would be marginally better off with the new scheme.

Thanks for any help,
Andy