Until 18 October 2018, the UK government offered working parents a childcare voucher scheme which gave them a way to pay for childcare from their pre-tax salary. The scheme has now been replaced by a tax-free childcare scheme and you can read about it here. https://www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare
Historically, parents who already had children and who were part of the old childcare voucher scheme had the advantage of being able to pay into the scheme and accrue childcare vouchers (subsidised by Carnival UK) while on maternity, paternity or adoption leave. Those expecting their first child, not able to opt into the scheme, did not get this subsidy.
So that we are fair in our approach for all parents, from 1 July 2020, colleagues in the old childcare voucher scheme will no longer get a Carnival UK contribution to childcare vouchers while on maternity, paternity or adoption leave. Instead, Carnival UK contributions can be put on hold for up to 52 weeks and can be resumed when you return to work.
How does this affect me?
- I am expecting my first child/I don’t have children yet but I might in the future
- This change doesn’t affect you. The changes apply to the government’s old childcare voucher scheme which finished on 4 October 2018. When you have children, you will be able to enrol in the tax-free childcare scheme. https://www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare
- I’m in the childcare voucher scheme already and on maternity or adoption leave
- We will continue to contribute towards childcare vouchers for the remainder of your maternity, paternity or adoption leave. However, if you have more children in the future, you will need to put your childcare voucher contributions on hold while on leave and resume them when you return to work.
- I’m in the childcare voucher scheme already and I’m expecting another child
- This change is effective 1 July 2020. So if you start your maternity, paternity or adoption leave before that date, you will still be able to pay into the childcare voucher scheme. As we’re in a period of transition, you can continue to contribute to the scheme for the duration of your leave, even if it’s due to finish after 1 July 2020.
- I have children, I’m in the childcare voucher scheme but I’m not expecting a child
- If you find out you are expecting a child before 1 July 2020, you will still be able to contribute to the childcare voucher scheme while on maternity leave and for the duration of the leave. If find out you are expecting after 1 July 2020, you will no longer be able to contribute to the scheme while on maternity, paternity or adoption leave and your contributions will need to be put on hold until you return to work.