Factsheet - Child Care Benefit
Child Care Benefit is assistance to help with the cost of child care for families who use either approved or registered child care.
Can I get Child Care Benefit?
You can get Child Care Benefit if:- you have a child in your care
- your child attends approved or registered care and you are liable to pay the child care fees
- your child meets the immunisation requirements
- you or your partner meet the residency requirements
- you meet the income test
Approved Care
Approved child care is care provided by a service provider that has been approved to receive Child Care Benefit payments on behalf of eligible families. Most long day care, family day care, before and after school care, vacation care, some occasional care and some in home care are approved child care providers. Your child care service can tell you if they are an approved provider.To find an approved child care service and vacancies in your area, you can ring the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 (TTY 1800 639 327) between 8am and 9pm AEST Monday to Friday.
Registered Care
Registered care is care for work related purposes that is provided by grandparents, relatives, friends or nannies who are registered as carers with the Family Assistance Office. Registered care may also be provided by individuals in some private preschools, kindergartens, some outside school hours care services and some occasional care centres. Carers or teachers in these services must be registered with the Family Assistance Office. Your carer can tell you if they are registered.Eligible Hours
- All eligible families using approved care can get up to 24 hours of Child Care Benefit a week per child
- You can claim up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for each child in approved or registered care if you and your partner are working or looking for work, training, studying or be exempt from this requirement
- You can get more than 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for each child in approved care if you or your partner are not available to care for your child for more than 50 hours a week because of work, study or training commitments (including travel to and from work).
How much can I get?
Rates - Approved Care
In the recent Budget, the Government announced that there will no longer be a minimum Child Care Benefit rate for approved child care. However, instead of the rate reducing only down to a minimum rate, it will continue to reduce until the rate is zero. The income levels at which the payment cuts out completely will depend on the number of children you have using approved child care as shown in Table 2. This change will affect only high income families.For families using approved care you are entitled to the maximum rate of Child Care Benefit if your annual family income is $36 573 or less.
| Number of children in care |
Per week (for 50 hours of care) |
Per hour for each child |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $173.50 | $3.47 |
| 2 | $362.63 | $3.62 |
3 |
$565.95 | $3.77 |
Maximum rate for a school child is 85 percent of the maximum non-school child rate
From July 2008, families with income above the income limits will no longer receive the minimum rate of Child Care Benefit. They will be assessed as zero rate Child Care Benefit. This will enable eligible families to continue to receive the Child Care Tax Rebate.
| Number of Children in care |
Income limits |
|---|---|
| 1 | $126 793 |
| 2 | $131 457 |
| 3 | 148 452 add $28 028 for each extra child in care |
Rate - Registered Care
Families using registered care are entitled to the following rate of Child Care Benefit.| Per hour for each child | Maximum per week for each child (for 50 hours a week) |
|---|---|
| $0.581 | $29.05 |
The Child Care Benefit rate for registered care for a school child is 85 percent of the rate for non-school child.
It is important to note you cannot get the Child Care Tax Rebate for registered care.
Payment Options
You can choose to receive your Child Care Benefit for approved care in the following ways:- Reduced fees-your Child Care Benefit will be paid to your child care service, who will pass it to you in the form of fee reductions so you pay less in fees, or
- lump sum-you will pay full child care fees to your child care service during the year, and after the end of the income year you may make a claim for Child Care Benefit as a lump sum.
Important to note: You must claim Child Care Benefit as reduced fees if you want to receive your Child Care Tax Rebate as a quarterly payment even if you are assessed at the zero rate of Child Care Benefit. If you choose to receive your Child Care Benefit as a lump sum payment, any Child Care Tax Rebate will also be paid as a lump sum at the end of that year.
Registered Care
For families using registered care:- You can only claim Child Care Benefit by lodging your child care receipts at the Family Assistance Office for fees that you have paid to your registered carer. You must claim your benefit within 12 months after the date the care has been provided.
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