Further to all the questions that have been raised within the RN Forum and RN FPS Facebook we have now received answers from the WAC Team.
When Service Person is deployed, they do not always have connectivity so cannot fill in the application form.
There have been issues with the initial registration form and a new registration form is now available on Defence Childcare Portal. We are unable to help with the connectivity issues for deployed personnel. There is a back dated claim system in place for those who cannot register while deployed. Details are in the FAQ’s: Families - wraparound childcare | Royal Navy | Discover My Benefits (mod.gov.uk)
We are having issues accessing the form and filling in due to macros.
There has been an issue with the registration form due to macros. It has now been resolved and people should go to Defence Childcare Portal and use the revised registration form and calculator if necessary. Also, a point to note, is that in order to ensure that [email protected]k have received a copy of their registration an auto-response confirming receipt of the registration must be received by the SP.
Could we have further clarity on ages?
Working parents (at least one of whom is a member of the Armed Forces) with children aged between 4-11 years in school (including home schooled children) will be able to claim back the costs of WAC (known as “Out of School Childcare” in Wales and “School Aged Childcare” in Scotland) for a maximum of 20 hours per week, per eligible child, during term time. The childcare must be provided by a registered provider (Ofsted or equivalent). The maximum hourly rate that can be claimed varies by region and provider type. Cap rates are set out in Annex A and are updated annually in the summer.
Eligible Children. A Service child in the context of this scheme is a child for whom the Service person has financial responsibility, and the child lives with the Service person for the majority of the time; unless separated due to Service commitments (deployment, residential courses), when on unaccompanied assignments or when serving overseas unaccompanied involuntarily with the family in the UK. Adopted children, children of long-term relationships and domestic partner children, where they meet the eligibility criteria, are eligible. Foster children are not eligible. Where the child is normally resident elsewhere, for example with another parent or relative, the SP will be unable to claim WAC. Further detail is within 2022DIN01-079 which is available on MOD IT Systems.
Can it be used during School Holidays for childcare cover?
WAC funding can be claimed for the 39 weeks of the year that schools are open. This includes teacher training days but does not include public holidays or any school holiday time. Parents who have accumulated Armed forces childcare voucher scheme (AFCVS) vouchers accumulated before joining TFC could be used for holiday care.
Some schools do not use the TFC for their after-school clubs. Some use ‘Parent pay’ and outsource after school clubs - can I use TFC for this?
Some online payment systems (e.g., parent pay), are not compatible with TFC, therefore those providers will not be able to accept TFC payments. Parents should check with their providers whether they are able to accept TFC payments. WAC claims can only be paid if the provider is registered with TFC and able to accept TFC payments.
Why does it not cover 12 yr olds? Some families feel they are still too young to be ‘home alone'.
Childcare received before and / or after the school day during term time only (39 weeks per year). In Wales this is known as ‘Out of School Care’, in Scotland this is known as ‘School Aged Childcare’. This is for children aged 11 or children registered disabled 17. Further work may be undertaken to look at an expansion in policy, however this cannot be guaranteed.
We have concern over loss of monies pushed into Salary Sacrifice Scheme/Vouchers.
Taken from WAC FAQs
If a parent leaves the AFCVS with a certain number of vouchers purchased and unused:
- How long do they have to spend the vouchers?
Parents should check with their voucher company whether there is a limit to the time the vouchers must be used.
- Do they have to spend all their vouchers before they are able to start using their TFC account?
No, they do not. Vouchers accumulated before joining TFC could be used for holiday care.
- Will they be able to claim for a refund for any unused vouchers?
Refunds are not possible under salary sacrifice contracts. Once your pay has been exchanged for a childcare voucher under contract, it is generally not possible to reverse it back through the payroll. In circumstances where a refund is allowed, the refund would be returned to your employer and paid to you through payroll and would be subject to tax and national insurance in the normal way.
Parents cannot be in the AFCVS and use TFC. If parents choose to leave the AFCVS for any reason (including to claim WAC funding) they must note that they cannot re-join the scheme. Service personnel could use the GOV.UK childcare calculator to make an informed decision
Are children turning 4 prior to starting school entitled to WAC?
The DIN States:
Working parents (at least one of whom is a member of the Armed Forces) with children aged between 4-11 years in school
There are different schemes in place for children who still attend nursery and are age 4. Information can be found on childcare choices. Policy states that WAC is specifically for school children’s wraparound childcare needs.
Are there any plans to help with childcare for nursery age? This is by the far the biggest impact financially on forces families with 2 working parents and feels a bit of an oversight with this roll out.
The Wraparound Childcare scheme was not established to cover childcare for pre-school children. Further work may be undertaken to look at an expansion to cover weekend shift workers, pre-schoolers however this cannot be guaranteed.
Are serving RFA members are eligible for WAC?
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) are MOD civilians. This would mean that they will not be eligible for WAC as they are not Regulars or FTRS (FC).
The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme is for Service Personnel (Regular and Full Time Reserve Service Full Commitment) assigned within the UK or serving on an unaccompanied assignment overseas, involuntarily, with the family residing in the UK. Children must be aged 4 to 11 years old and have started school and/or being home schooled and they must be recorded on JPA.
This Wraparound childcare policy captures the needs of those that are most likely to be impacted by mobility and or deployment, which may make it harder for their families to access the wraparound childcare that they need. Regulars and Full Commitment (FC) are eligible for the funding.
When serving members/ husbands are away, how do I access defence gateway etc as I do not have access to this? Is there a time frame for submitting an invoice?
In certain circumstances claims for WAC can be backdated to the start of the Autumn 2022 term. As laid out in 2022DIN01-079:
- Up until 31 December 2022, claims for WAC can be backdated to the start of the Autumn 2022 term. once the Service person’s (and where applicable the provider’s) Tax Free Childcare (TFC) accounts have been activated and the Service person’s registration approved. Claims must not be submitted before registration approval has been given.
Please note, School term dates may differ across the UK. As the school year usually begins in the second or third week of August in Scotland, eligible claims for childcare provided in Scotland can be backdated to 15 August 2022.
- From 1 January 2023, claims can be backdated to the date the TFC account was applied for if there is a delay in the Service person’s TFC account activation. Claims must not be submitted before the Service person’s (and where applicable the provider’s) TFC accounts have been activated and registration has been approved.
Service personnel must make a note of the date the TFC account was applied for and be prepared to provide evidence of the TFC account application being submitted, or claims will only be backdated to the TFC activation date.
If you have any further questions, please utilise the discussion area where we will pick these up and push to the WAC Team on your behalf.
