Frequently Asked Questions
Your employer recognises how important it is to achieve a balanced working life, particularly if you have demands made on you as a parent.
They are also very aware of the high costs associated with childcare.
To help with these costs you are able to convert a portion of your salary into Fideliti Childcare Vouchers allowing you to make significant savings
on your existing childcare costs.
This information has been designed to help you understand the way the scheme works and to determine if the scheme is right for you.
If you require any further information after reading this,
please email us at
enquiries@fideliti.co.uk.
1. How does the scheme work?2. What are the qualifying conditions?3. How can I change the amount I take in childcare vouchers?4. How do I cancel my childcare vouchers?5. How much notice do I need to give to make a change, or to cancel my childcare vouchers?6. What is the minimum amount I can take in vouchers?7. If I cancel my childcare vouchers will I be allowed to re-join the scheme at a later date?8. Can I be in receipt of childcare vouchers and 30 hours free childcare?9. Can I be in receipt of childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare?10. How will this affect my pension?11. How will this affect any overtime payments or pay rises?12. Will my Maternity Pay be affected if I receive childcare vouchers?13. Will my Statutory Sick Pay and State Pension be affected if I receive vouchers?14. Can I receive a refund for any vouchers I no longer require?15. Do childcare vouchers expire? 16. How will I receive vouchers?17. How often do you make payments to childcare providers?18. If you unable to access your online Fideliti Account 19. I'm in credit with my childcare provider. Can they refund the money back to me?20. My childcare provider has changed their bank account details. How do I amend these?21. Can childcare vouchers be used to pay for music lessons?22. How do I add a new childcare provider to my Fideliti Account?Any further questions?
1. How does the scheme work?
Under the childcare voucher scheme you are able to take a portion of your salary as childcare vouchers which are not subject to tax and National Insurance deductions. This is referred to as a 'salary sacrifice scheme'.
For all employees that joined the scheme after the 6th April 2011 date, an earnings assessment will be carried out at the start of each tax year to determine your allowance for the year ahead. Fideliti and your employer will do this automatically. You may be restricted to the amount you are eligible to take in vouchers dependant on the tax bracket you are in. The current rates are shown below:
- Basic rate tax payer £55 per week / £243 per month
- Higher rate tax payer £28 per week / £124 per month
- Additional rate tax payer £25 per week / £110 per month
However, after the childcare vouchers have been deducted, your salary cannot drop below the national minimum wage or national living wage and it is important that your salary does not drop below the lower earnings limit as this could affect other state benefits.
Back to the top2. What are the qualifying conditions?
Childcare vouchers can be used to make full or part payment for childcare for children up to the 1st September following the child's 15th birthday, or 16th birthday if the child is disabled.
They can be used to pay for any form of Ofsted or equivalent registered childcare, including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday clubs. They can also be used for private tuition such as Kip McGrath, Explore Learning and Kumon as long as the site is registered with Ofsted.
Back to the top3. How can I change the amount I take in childcare vouchers?
To change your monthly voucher amount/deduction from salary, you need to login to your Fideliti Account via our website and click on the "Amending My Childcare Voucher Amount" option within the My Account section. The options regarding this will then be shown to you. You are unable to do this via the mobile app.
Back to the top4. How do I cancel my childcare vouchers?
To cancel your monthly voucher amount/deduction from salary, you need to login to your Fideliti Account via our website and click on the "Cancel My Childcare Vouchers" option within the My Account section. The options regarding this will then be shown to you. You are unable to do this via the mobile app.
Back to the top5. How much notice do I need to give to make a change, or to cancel my childcare vouchers?
Under the terms and conditions of the scheme we require one month's notice prior to your date of pay. However, this is also determined by your employer's payroll cut-off date.
Back to the top6. What is the minimum amount I can take in vouchers?
The minimum voucher amount is £10.00 per month.
Back to the top7. If I cancel my childcare vouchers will I be allowed to re-join the scheme at a later date?
If you decide to cancel your childcare vouchers and need to re-join the scheme in the future, you must do so within 52 weeks of your last deduction/voucher being issued. This assumes that you are also staying with the same employer. If you move employer or leave the scheme for 52 weeks or more, you lose your eligibility to re-join. For example, if your last voucher is issued in November 2022, you must have a deduction/voucher issued in October 2023 at the latest to re-join because of the 52-week rule.
Back to the top8. Can I be in receipt of childcare vouchers and 30 hours free childcare?
Yes, you can be in receipt of both childcare vouchers and 30 hours free childcare at the same time.
Back to the top9. Can I be in receipt of childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare?
You cannot continue to claim childcare vouchers if you successfully apply for Tax-Free Childcare. You can continue to use any remaining vouchers you already have, including to make a joint payment for childcare with Tax-Free Childcare. You must tell your employer within 90 days if you sign up to the Tax-Free Childcare. Once you've told your employer that you're receiving support through the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, you cannot re-join their childcare voucher scheme.
Back to the top10. How will this affect my pension?
You would need to contact your employer to confirm how your employer is handling pension contributions. If you are contributing to a Private Pension Scheme, you should discuss the possible effects with an Independent Financial Advisor.
Back to the top11. How will this affect any overtime payments or pay rises?
As your salary has been contractually reduced, this could affect any benefits based on this. Typically employers make arrangements so that these benefits are based on your full salary.
Back to the top12. Will my Maternity Pay be affected if I receive childcare vouchers?
- Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is calculated on your ‘average weekly earnings’ during weeks 17 - 25 of your pregnancy.
- For the purpose of calculating SMP your lower salary (after childcare vouchers have been deducted) will be used.
- By remaining on the voucher scheme throughout your pregnancy your SMP will be reduced.
- To ensure that your SMP is not reduced, you should consider whether to leave the childcare voucher scheme by week 17 of the pregnancy.
Back to the top13. Will my Statutory Sick Pay and State Pension be affected if I receive vouchers?
As long as your salary does not drop below the Lower Earnings Limit these benefits will not be affected.
Back to the top14. Can I receive a refund for any vouchers I no longer require?
Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, childcare vouchers are non-refundable and it's important that you don't accrue more vouchers than you need.
You might want to consider temporarily opting out of the scheme, or reducing your voucher amount to the minimum, to use up the balance in your account.
Back to the top15. Do childcare vouchers expire?
Childcare vouchers don't expire until the 1st September following your youngest child's 15th birthday and can be used to pay for any form of Ofsted or equivalent registered childcare, including holiday clubs, breakfast and after school clubs and private tuition.
Back to the top16. How will I receive vouchers?
Fideliti offers you two ways of receiving your vouchers to pay your childcare provider. This allows you to choose which best suits your individual requirements
Option 1: Electronic Vouchers
The value of your vouchers is paid into your online Fideliti Account. You can then log into it at any time to view your account, add/amend childcare providers and to make payments. This type of account gives you more flexibility and allows you to accrue vouchers to use at a later date. You can also set up a regular payment where Fideliti will automatically pay your childcare provider on a specified date.
Option 2: Autopay Vouchers
This is an automated payment direct to your childcare provider for a fixed amount each month, on a date specified by you. This is the easiest method if your payments will remain the same each month and you’re only paying one childcare provider
Back to the top17. How often do you make payments to childcare providers?
Payments to childcare providers are typically made within 2-3 working days of the request. Payments are not made on weekends or Bank Holidays and will be made on the next available payment run. All payments are made by BACS transfer. Please allow an additional 2-3 working days for the payment to reach the recipients bank account.
Back to the top18. If you unable to access your online Fideliti Account
If you are having difficulty accessing your Fideliti Account you are able to request either a reminder of your username, or a password reset via our website. Any reminder or password reset emails will be sent to the email address you used to register with Fideliti, unless you have subsequently changed this. Please note that your username is not your email address. You created your unique username when you originally registered with us. If you are still unable to access your Fideliti Account, please email us at enquiries@fideliti.co.uk and a member of our team will be able to assist you.
Back to the top19. I'm in credit with my childcare provider. Can they refund the money back to me?
In certain circumstances, your childcare provider is able to return the overpayment back to Fideliti and we in turn will credit your online Fideliti Account. Please ask them to email us at enquiries@fideliti.co.uk and we'll be able to advise them accordingly.
Where we are able to accept the return of the overpayment, we’ll confirm the refund process to them. We do not accept payment by cheque.
Please note that if you've ever paid them by any other means, e.g. cash or cheque, for an amount greater or equivalent to the amount that they need to refund, then they are able to refund you directly. Please also be mindful that under the terms and conditions on the scheme, childcare vouchers are non-refundable.
Back to the top20. My childcare provider has changed their bank account details. How do I amend these?
As your childcare provider is the account holder, they will need to contact us directly to arrange this. Please ask them to email us at enquiries@fideliti.co.uk and a member of the team will be able to assist them.
Back to the top21. Can childcare vouchers be used to pay for music lessons?
Childcare vouchers can be used to pay for music lessons as long as they are taking place after school hours, are not a part of the National Curriculum, the music lesson provider is Ofsted registered, or they are taking place on the premises that form part of the school's annual inspection.
Back to the top22. How do I add a new childcare provider to my Fideliti Account?
You need to login to online Fideliti Account and click on the Your Childcare Providers link under the My Account section. This will then allow you to search for your new provider by name, postcode or Fideliti account number and add them to your account.
If the childcare provider isn't currently registered with us, you can add their details at the bottom of the page where indicated. You'll need to include their full address, phone number and email address. We'll then contact them to get them registered and will confirm back to you by email when they are.
Back to the topAny further questions?
Please email us at enquiries@fideliti.co.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.
Back to the top