Aviva Flex

What is it?

You can select between £10 and £1,500 of vouchers each month to pay for a wide range of registered childcare. The monthly tax free amount will depend on the rate at which you pay tax and national insurance. For existing members (those in the scheme before 31^st March 2011) and basic rate tax payers the tax free amount is £243. For higher rate tax payers it's £124 and for additional rate tax payers it's £97. The limit is per parent - so if your partner works for Aviva or a company which also offers childcare vouchers, you could both take advantage of the savings. The vouchers are credited to your online account, making them flexible and easy to use.

In addition, you also get free access to the childcare helpline and free use of a vacancy-matching service.

• Decide how much you would like to spend on childcare vouchers each month from £10 to £1,500 (in increments of £1) and select this when you enrol.
• Once you’ve set up the details of your carer, the money is paid directly into their bank account. No vouchers in the post, no hassle!
• When you enrol, if you are selecting childcare vouchers for the first time, you will need to register an account with care-4. You can do this either online at http://www.care-4.co.uk or by calling the care-4 helpline on 0844 800 1444.
• If you’ve previously selected this benefit through my Aviva flex and you’re happy with the monthly amount you don’t need to do anything at annual enrolment, the benefit and tax savings will simply continue as before.

The following table highlights the key features and services you’ll receive if you select childcare vouchers:

Benefit features:	Levels of cover:
	First £243/£124/£97* p.m.	Over £243/£124/£97* p.m.
Tax savings	Yes	No
NI free	Yes	No
Free access to the childcare helpline that provides advice on a wide range of child-related issues such as local childcare, emergency childcare information and children’s health	Yes	Yes
Use of a free vacancy-matching service to find high quality, affordable childcare provided by registered childminders who are members of the National Childminding Association (NCMA)	Yes	Yes
A personal care-4 account from which you make payments to your chosen carer	Yes	Yes

• For general questions about this benefit, you can call the my Aviva flex helpline on 0800 917 2310.
• Details of monthly charges for each benefit are available when you log in.

Saves on tax? On childcare vouchers up to your tax free limit*

Saves on NI? On childcare vouchers up to your tax free limit*

Terms & conditions

Click here or the PDF icon to download the childcare vouchers terms & conditions

Childcare Savings

Click here or the PDF icon to download the Savings on Childcare document

* Your tax-free limit depends on the rate at which you pay tax and NI. For basic rate tax payers this is £243 per month, for higher rate tax payers this is £124 and for additional rate tax payers this is £97 per month

• Do you spend a substantial part of your salary on childcare?
• Do you regularly pay for after-school activities with a registered childminder?
• Selecting childcare vouchers may affect your entitlement to some employer or state benefits. If you need advice, call the working tax credit/child tax credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk
• If you are a higher or additional rate tax payer, and you join the childcare vouchers scheme after 31st March 2011 you will only receive tax relief at the basic rate. If you joined the scheme by 31st March 2011 you will qualify for relief at your current rate of tax.

In the month after enrolment you will receive an information pack explaining how your childcare vouchers work and how to register your carer.

Click here to select childcare vouchers on line or call the my Aviva flex helpline on
0800 9172310.

To select on line:

• Log on via the above link.
• Select “Change your selections via a Life Event”
• Select “Change in childcare arrangements”, and complete the necessary information. Don’t forget to submit your selection.