How do I receive vouchers during my maternity leave?

1. To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be in the Childcare Voucher Salary Exchange Scheme and receiving Childcare Vouchers at week 15 before your due date for your second or subsequent child.
2. Maintain the voucher exchange value at the week 15 level, until the start of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance (MA). Please note that if you reduce the exchange value after week 15 and before your due date, the University will provide you with the reduced level of benefit.
3. Remain in the employment of the University for the duration of your maternity leave.

2. You will receive 2 letters from the Manager of Childcare Services:

1. 1st letter – Introduction to Maintained Benefit – this will inform you of your eligibility to receive childcare vouchers at no cost to yourself during your maternity leave. This letter will be sent to your work address.
2. 2nd letter – Starting Maintained Benefit – this will detail the childcare voucher payment arrangements for the first and subsequent months of your maternity leave and will be sent to your home address. (Please use Employee Self Service (www.chris.cam.ac.uk) to check your home address is accurately recorded).

Option 1: in receipt of University Contractual Maternity Pay

3. If you have opted to receive University Contractual Maternity Pay, you must maintain your salary exchange for childcare vouchers up to and including the 18th week of maternity leave to qualify for the continuing provision of the benefit for the remainder of your maternity leave.
4. The Childcare Office will make an amendment to the normal childcare voucher order which will ensure that you receive childcare vouchers at no cost to yourself from the start of your 19th week of maternity leave. Should the start of week 19 fall part way through a month rather than at the beginning/end of the month, you will be required to salary exchange in the normal way until the start of week 19 of your maternity leave and the University will cover the vouchers for the remainder of the month. The University will make payments directly to the voucher provider who will then supply you with vouchers in the same form as you previously received them (paper, electronic). If you have electronic vouchers, you will see the vouchers recorded in your account as ‘supplied by the University’ or ‘employer funded vouchers’.

Option 2: in receipt of SMP or MA only

5. If you have opted to receive SMP, or are only eligible to receive MA, from week 1 of your maternity leave, the University will provide the benefit from that point.
6. The Childcare Office will make an amendment to the normal childcare voucher order which will ensure that you receive childcare vouchers at no cost to yourself from day 1 of your maternity leave. Should this date fall part way through a month rather than at the beginning/end of the month you will be required to exchange in the normal way until the day you start your maternity leave and the University will cover the vouchers for the remainder of the month. The University will make payments directly to the voucher provider who will then supply you with vouchers in the same form as you previously received them (paper, electronic). If you have electronic vouchers, you will see the vouchers recorded in your account as ‘supplied by the University’ or ‘employer funded vouchers’.

3. Please be aware that should you decide to return to work and receive University Contractual Maternity Pay in retrospect, you will be required to reimburse the University for the childcare vouchers they provided on your behalf during the first 18 weeks of your maternity leave.

For more information please contact the Manager, Childcare Services on 01223 (7) 65305.