Factsheet - Child Care Benefit - Extra Assistance for Grandparent Carers
What is the waiver of the Child Care Benefit (CCB) Work, Training and Study Test?
Grandparents who have the primary responsibility for raising and caring for a grandchild may be entitled to additional assistance with the costs of approved child care.
The CCB work, training and study test is waived for eligible grandparents who have the primary care of their grandchildren. This enables grandparent carers to access up to 50 hours of CCB for each child in approved care each week.
Who is eligible for the waiver of the CCB work, training and study test?
To be eligible for the waiver a grandparent must be:
the natural, adoptive, or step grandparent of the child. Great-grandparents who are looking after grandchildren are eligible in the same way as grandparents; or
the current or former partner of a grandparent if they are the primary carer of the grandchild; and
the sole or major provider of ongoing daily care for the grandchild; and
have substantial autonomy for the day-to-day decisions about the child's care, welfare and development; and
To assist grandparents with the cost of child care, Grandparent Child Care Benefit (GCCB) is available to eligible grandparents caring for their grandchild and who are in receipt of an Income Support Payment. GCCB covers the full cost of child care for up to 50 hours for each child in approved care each week. In certain circumstances you may be able to get GCCB for more than 50 hours per week.
Who is eligible for GCCB?
To be eligible for GCCB, a grandparent must:
meet the eligibility requirements outlined for the waiver of the CCB work, training and study test; and
be in receipt of an Income Support Payment.
An Income Support Payment is any of the following:
Age Pension
Austudy Payment
Bereavement Allowance
Carer Payment
Community Development Employment Project (CDEP)
Disability Support Pension
Disability Support Pension (Blind)
Department of Veterans Affairs Income Support Supplement or Service Pension
Mature Age Allowance
Mature Age Partner Allowance
Newstart Allowance
Parenting Payment
Partner Allowance
Sickness Allowance
Special Benefit
Special Needs Pension
Widow Allowance
Widow B Pension
Wife Pension
Youth Allowance
GCCB is only available to customers who claim CCB as reduced fees, and cannot be claimed as a lump sum payment.
How do I apply?
To apply for the waiver of the work, training and study test and/or GCCB, grandparents need to contact the Family Assistance Office to advise that they OR their partner:
are the grandparent caring for their grandchild, and
have the primary care of the child, and
are eligible for CCB for approved child care
The Family Assistance Office may ask for more information.
How do I find a child care place?
You can phone the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 607 305 for information on child care services and vacancies available in your area.
What if I am not the primary carer but provide some care for my grandchild?
Grandparents who are providing child care for their grandchildren, but are not the primary carers, are not eligible for GCCB or the waiver of the Child Care Benefit work, training and study test.
They may wish to consider becoming a Registered Carer if they charge a fee for the child care provided.
Where do I go for more information?
Call the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 between 8.00am and 8.00pm (local time) Monday to Friday.
Visit the nearest Family Assistance Office located in all Centrelink Customer Service Centres, Medicare Australia offices and Australian Taxation Office shopfronts.
