Who qualifies for government child care vouchers?

There are still some limitations on the usage of the government's new child care vouchers, but an effort has been made to make them available to a wide range of parents and guardians.

If you are currently working and paying for child care, read on to find out if you could be entitled to child care vouchers.

You can join the child care vouchers scheme if your employer is operating it. This is because the exchange of salary for vouchers is made when you are paid your salary. If your employer is not part of the scheme, it may be worth talking to other parents in your company, and to your HR department, to see if you can encourage your employer to take part.

You must also be:

employed, not self-employed

the parent or legal guardian or a qualifying child

an income tax payer

using a registered child care provider

The definition of a qualifying child is one between 0 and 16. Children become ineligible on the 1st of September after their 15th birthday or on the 1st of September after their 16th birthday if they are disabled. You can use your vouchers for more than one child, and with more than one child care provider, but the maximum limit of the vouchers applies to you, not to each child.

If your employer operates the government child care voucher system, they must offer it across the board to all employees, not just to senior staff, or to female employees. The system allows both parents to claim the benefits, allowing for maximum savings where appropriate, and so the company must make sure that everyone who could benefit from the scheme is both aware of it, and able to take part.

Your employer may ask you to commit to a fixed period for the vouchers; a six-month period, for example, and because taking some of your salary in vouchers reduces the amount of actual salary that you are paid, you need to check the affects this could have on any other benefits you claim, or on your pension provisions.

At Fennies, we accept the government child care voucher scheme at our nurseries, and we can also administrate a scheme for your company. For more information on how we can help with your child care voucher system.

please call us on 020 8763 8039 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Date: 08/12/2005