Childcare Vouchers and Furlough

rjscales

I have been furloughed since April. I have been getting Childcare Vouchers through this period as they are useful now nurseries are open. Over April, May and June my employer took the voucher payments off my salary in the usual way so i recieve the tax benefit. However they have since discovered that they are not allowed to take this salary sacrifice under the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme as the entire cash payment should be made to the employee. They have contacted me in advance of this months payrol advising me that they are making an additional payment to me for the childcare vouchers issued (£600) however asking me to pay this back as I have had the vouchers. Due to financial constraints I am reluctant to do this. I thought employers should still fund salary sacirfice schemes in addition to furlough pay.