Information Pack

Busy Bees Benefits

Childcare VouchersEmployee Information

www.busybeesbenefits.com

Childcare Vouchers help working parents

to save money on their childcare costs.

Childcare can be amongst one of the largest outgoings for working families. Childcare Vouchers are a popular employee benefit which make childcare more affordable for working parents.

Key facts:• Working parents can save up to £933* per

year on the cost of their childcare.• Operated as salary sacrifice or salary plus.• Both parents can join their employer’s

Childcare Voucher scheme, increasing savings.• Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for

registered childcare for children up to the age of 16**.

• Organisations can save up to £402* per employee on the scheme each year.

• Receive additional money-saving benefits.• Access to Emergency Childcare.• To be able to use Childcare Vouchers,

employees must be employed, paying PAYE, earning above National Minimum Wage and have responsibility for at least one child.

Where can they be used?Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for any registered childcare for children up to the age of 16**. Childcare providers must be registered with Ofsted or an equivalent governing body. They can be used to pay for:• Nurseries• Child minders• Play schools and pre-schools• Nannies and au pairs• Créches• Play schemes• Before and after school clubs• Holiday clubs/camps• Activity camps• Independent schools• Private school fees***

How do they work?When operated as salary sacrifice, employees can choose to exchange up to £243* per month (£55* per week) which is deducted from their salary in return for the same amount of Childcare Vouchers. Tax and National Insurance is then taken from the remaining salary.

When operated as salary plus, Childcare Vouchers are provided on top of an employee’s

*Subject to individual circumstances**A child qualifies for Childcare Vouchers up to the end of the week containing the 1st September following each child’s 15th birthday (16th birthday for children with a disability)*** Childcare Vouchers can be used for Private school feesup until the term before the child’s 5th birthday.

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“Childcare Vouchers are

used by more than 500,000 working

parents in the UK.”

salary. Employees using the salary plus scheme can have the same amount of Childcare Vouchers as with the salary sacrifice scheme.

Your employer will determine which scheme you use.

How much can be saved:The maximum amount an employee can sacrifice from their salary each month depends on which tax bracket they fall into.

Factors such as Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, Universal Credit, Statutory Maternity Pay and other employee benefits, can affect how much an employee is entitled to have in Childcare Vouchers.

The Busy Bees Benefits’ registration process includes an intuitive minimum wage check to ensure that by taking Childcare Vouchers, employees do not fall below National Minimum Wage levels.

Working Tax Credits - Childcare Element:The childcare element of Working Tax Credits can cover up to 70% of childcare costs for some parents. It may be more financially beneficial for employees to claim Working Tax Credits rather than use Childcare Vouchers.

Use the online calculator to see how much you can save using Childcare Vouchers and determine which system is most beneficial for your individual circumstances.

Childcare allowances and savings*

Total Earnings

Weekly Allowance

Monthly Allowance

Annual Savings

Basic Rate £55 £243 £933

Higher Rate

£28 £124 £624

Additional Rate

£25 £110 £620

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Save over £1,800 if both parents use

Childcare Vouchers.*

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Benefits for employees:• More affordable childcare.• Both parents can join a Childcare Voucher

scheme, which means a family can enjoy savings of up to £1,800* per year.

• Quick and easy online registration process and voucher redemption.

• Smartphone-optimised website allowing employees to access their online account whilst on the move.

• Excellent customer support with years of experience in the Childcare Voucher market.

• Peace of mind as all funds are safe and secure.

• Pay childcare providers as soon as Childcare Voucher funds reach Busy Bees Benefits.

• The system shows transactions in real-time and employees have the ability to schedule Childcare Voucher reductions and voucher holidays.

Additional Benefits:Busy Bees Benefits is dedicated to helping employees to make savings on their lifestyle costs.

Discount CardsChildcare Voucher users get free access to exclusive retail discounts via their online account. Employees can browse and purchase discount cards for a range of high street stores, including:• ASDA and Sainsbury’s• B&Q• Boots• Schuh• Marks & Spencer• Mothercare• Toys R Us• WH Smith• iTunes• House of Fraser• Debenhams• Halfords• Pizza Hut• Currys and PC World• Love2Shop vouchers• Topshop, Burton Menswear and New Look• Your Travel Cardand many more.

*Subject to individual circumstances**A child qualifies for Childcare Vouchers up to the end of the week containing the 1st September following each child’s 15th birthday (16th birthday for children with a disability)*** Childcare Vouchers can be used for Private school feesup until the term before the child’s 5th birthday.

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Busy Bees NurseriesParents using Busy Bees Benefits Childcare Vouchers to pay for childcare at a Busy Bees nursery will automatically receive an additional 5% credit on top of their voucher values.

Therefore, if a parent used their full £243 Childcare Voucher at a Busy Bees nursery, they would actually have £255.15 in their online account to use at the nursery.

Emergency Childcare:Most parents will at some point experience sudden childcare issues. Being let down by a childcare provider at the last minute can mean employees have to take time off work to provide childcare themselves.

Childcare Voucher users get free access to the Busy Bees Benefits Emergency Childcare service. This enables parents to arrange to take their child to one of over 200 Busy Bees nurseries when they experience childcare problems.

How it works:• As soon as employees know their usual

childcare provider is unavailble, they can contact Busy Bees Benefits between 8am and

6pm (Monday to Friday) on 0330 333 9100.• A representative will find a Busy Bees

nursery (location dependent) closest to the employee’s home or workplace.

• A reservation will be made at the chosen nursery (subject to availability).

• The parent can take their child to the chosen nursery and only pay for the day(s) they use their services.

The fee for Emergency Childcare at the nursery can be paid using Childcare Vouchers and will attract an additional 5% credit, which is enjoyed by regular users of Busy Bees nurseries.

Start using Childcare Vouchers:If your employer does not currently offer a scheme please contact us on 0330 333 9100 or email information@busybeesbenefits.com and we will get in touch with them on your behalf.

If your employer already offers a Busy Bees Benefits Childcare Voucher scheme, contact us for registration details, or speak to your HR department.

For more information...If you would like more information and to discuss your organisation’s individual

needs, please contact us using our local rate phone number below:

Email: employer@busybeesbenefits.comTel: 0330 333 9100

Head office address:Latchford House, Shenstone Business Park,Lynn Lane, Shenstone, Staffordshire, WS14 0SB

Busy Bees Benefits offers a range of other employee and employer benefits:

Cycle to Work - Car Leasing - Mobile Phones - Retail Discounts - Car Care - Will Writing

- Employment Law - Earn and Learn -- Workplace Parking - Emergency Childcare -

- Employee Assistance Programme -