Factsheet - Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Child Care fee assistance

What is JET Child Care fee assistance

JET Child Care fee assistance helps with the cost of approved child care for eligible parents undertaking activities such as work, job search, training, study or rehabilitation as part of an activity agreement, to help them enter or re-enter the workforce.

JET Child Care fee assistance can help meet the cost of child care by paying some of the 'gap fee'. The 'gap fee' is the difference between the amount you are charged and the amount you get for Child Care Benefit (CCB).

You will need to pay 10c per hour per child to your service. The Government will pay your CCB and any gap fee. If you use more hours than you are entitled to (24 or 50) you will have to pay the full cost for these additional hours.

JET Child Care fee assistance is paid just like your CCB. It is paid directly to your approved child care service, so that the fees you pay are reduced.

To receive JET Child Care fee assistance, you must:

receive an eligible Centrelink payment
have a JET Child Care fee assistance activity specified in your activity agreement
not have exceeded the length of time for which JET Child Care fee assistance can be paid for activities in your agreement
be receiving Child Care Benefit at the maximum rate
use approved child care (for example, Long Day Care, Family Day Care and Outside School Hours Care)

If you receive one of the following Centrelink payments you may be eligible for JET Child Care fee assistance:

Newstart Allowance	Youth Allowance (for jobseekers)
Parenting Payment	Carer Payment
Widow Allowance	Widow B Pension
Partner Allowance	A means tested ABSTUDY payment
Community Development Employment Project Participant Supplement	Special Benefit (in certain circumstances)

What activities does JET Child Care fee assistance support?

JET Child Care fee assistance supports many activities to help parents enter or re-enter the workforce. As outlined below, there are limits to the length of time JET Child Care will be paid for an activity.

job search - 20 days in 20 weeks
paid and unpaid work - the initial 26 weeks of a job
study or training - for up to 24 months*
participation in a labour market program e.g. Personal Support Program - up to 12 months but may be extended
participation in a government funded rehabilitation program - up to 12 months but may be extended
other activities that help parents to engage in sustainable paid work

* From 1 July 2008, JET Child Care fee assistance will increase from up to 12 months of full-time study, regardless of the course duration, to up to 24 months. You can also get assistance if you want to study or train part-time

How many hours a week can I get JET Child Care fee assistance for?

This depends on:

the type of child care you need
the number of hours you are charged for care by your child care service and
if you (and your partner, if you have one) meet the CCB work/training/study test.

Note: The number of hours you receive JET Child Care fee assistance for in a week cannot be more than the hours you receive CCB in the same week, i.e. 24 or 50 hours

Absences from child care

JET Child Care fee assistance can be paid in some situations if you are charged for child care when your child is absent. Payment can be made for up to 30 days of absences for each child per financial year. Talk to your service about the reason for the absence. If you have a special reason, the absence may not be counted as one of your child's 30 allowable absences.

The rules relating to absences are changing with the introduction of the new Child Care Management System (CCMS). As child care services transition to CCMS, the new rules will apply to them.

Under the CCMS changes, there will be provision for 42 absence days for each child per financial year which can be used for any reason and without any proof required. Additional absence days above the initial 42 days will be approved for permitted circumstances. There will be no limit on the number of these additional absences that may be claimed if they are taken for specific reasons and supporting documentation, where required, is provided.

*For further information on JET Child Care fee assistance, contact the Family Assistance Office
on 13 6150.

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