Considerations before you join
First check whether childcare vouchers are right for you. Edenred offers a Tax Credit Estimator which will give you an idea of how your individual circumstances may be affected by taking childcare vouchers, and whether you would be better off taking tax credits alone. For details on the estimator, as well as some information on how childcare vouchers affect other benefits, see the section on `Implications for other benefits´.
You will need to check whether your childcare provider accepts Edenred childcare vouchers, and is affiliated to their network. Edenred are one of the largest childcare voucher providers, so it is likely that your chosen childcare provider(s) has previously been paid with Edenred vouchers and is already affiliated to the network. You will need to ask them for their Edenred account number, which you will need in order to transfer electronic vouchers to them.
If your childcare provider has not been paid with Edenred vouchers before, they can complete a carer application form online from the Edenred website (see the link on the right); click on `Accept Vouchers´ in the childcare providers´ area. You can download a printable application form from the same website if your carer does not have internet access.
You will also need to decide how many vouchers you would like to claim each month. You can take up to £243 in vouchers each month, all of which are free from tax and National Insurance.