Child Care Benefit

What is Child Care Benefit?
Who can get Child Care Benefit?
What if my child is absent from child care?
How do I find an approved child care service and vacancy information?

What is Child Care Benefit?

Child Care Benefit is a payment from the Australian Government that helps you with the cost of your child care.

Who can get Child Care Benefit?

You can get Child Care Benefit if you are a parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending child care services approved by, or registered with, the Government.

You can get Child Care Benefit if:

you have a child in your care who meets the immunisation requirements (or have an exemption)
you or your partner (if you have one) meet residency requirements (or have an exemption)
your child attends approved or registered care and you have the liability to pay for the cost of your child care
you meet the income test

Please note: If your employer contributes towards some or all of your child care costs through salary sacrificing or salary packaging, you will need to determine who has the liability for the costs. The issue of liability depends on who is obligated to pay for the child care fees.

How can I get Child Care Benefit?

You can claim Child Care Benefit by completing and lodging a claim form at any Family Assistance Office, located at Centrelink Customer Service Centres and Medicare Australia shopfronts or by using online services

Note: You need to claim for Child Care Benefit even if you are assessed at the zero rate so that you can also receive your Child Care Rebate.

If you receive Family Tax Benefit as a fortnightly payment, you can lodge a claim for Child Care Benefit by calling 13 6150.

For more information regarding how Child Care Benefit can be paid, see payment options.

What if my child is absent from child care?

Child Care Benefit can be paid in some situations if you are charged for child care when your child is absent.

Child Care Benefit is paid for up to 42 absences for each child per financial year across all approved child care services except Occasional Care. These absence days can be taken for any reason with no evidence required. Please talk to your child care provider regarding the absence policy detail.

Child Care Benefit is also paid for additional absences above the 42 days for certain reasons. There is no limit on these days but supporting documentation may be required. Please talk to your child care provider regarding the additional absence policy detail and any supporting document requirements.

For Occasional Care, Child Care Benefit is paid for an absence if the child care has been booked and paid for at the Occasional Care service. There is no limit on the number of absences.

Note: Child Care Rebate may only be payable for absences from care that attract Child Care Benefit.

You can access your child's absence record on your View Child Care Attendance online statement available under View child care details and payments at Online Services.

For more information on absences from child care, you can access the Information for families using child care fact sheet kit available on the DEEWR website.

How do I find an approved child care service and vacancy information?

If you would like information about approved child care services and vacancies in your local area, contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305* (TTY 1800 639 327) or search the My Child website.

*Free call unless from a mobile or public pay phone.

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