How long does the agreement last?
You are committed to a minimum of 12 months in the scheme and therefore the scheme is fixed for this period. There is opportunity to change the extent of your participation subject to a specific lifestyle event e.g., pregnancy, redundancy, and death of a child/partner.

What happens if I become pregnant?
Pregnancy is a ‘life changing event’ so it should be possible for you to review your arrangements with your employer and you should be able to leave the scheme (if you want to) before working the eight weeks period on which your SMP will be based.

What happens if I leave my employer?
You will need to advise both your employer and the Childcare Account immediately if you decide to leave. Any further payments to your Childcare Account will cease and any monies remaining can continue to be used to authorise payments to your registered carer(s).

Will there be any effect on my state benefits?
Participating in a salary sacrifice scheme may impact upon your entitlement to certain state benefits.

• Contribution based benefits: some are calculated according to the level of National Insurance Contributions you have made.
• Incapacity Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance
• State Pension
• Earnings Related benefits: some are calculated according to your earnings so any salary reductions will not be included in these calculations.
• Maternity Allowance
• The State Second Pension
• Work related payments: some are calculated on average earnings so any salary reductions will not be included.
• Statutory Maternity Pay (see above)
• Statutory Sick Pay

For more information please visit www.thepensionservice.gov.uk , www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk