Providing for a child in today’s day and age, where the cost of living continues to rise, is expensive. The Government assists families from low and middle-income strata by contributing to their child care fees. Eligible families end up paying the difference between the actual fees and the subsidy paid.
In-home child care is accessible to parents who are geographically isolated, work non-standard hours, or have complex family needs. The child care subsidy program ensures children from challenging households interact with quality educators who lay a strong foundation in their formative years.
You are eligible for quality in-home child care service when you can establish how mainstream alternatives are not a viable option. The educators assigned are suitably qualified and specialists in early childhood education.
To acquaint you with this subsidy initiative, highlighted here are its fundamental features:
Eligibility Criteria
Children who are 13 years old or younger and do not attend secondary school are eligible for this subsidy. Exceptions are made in the case of kids with disabilities or medical conditions.
From a health perspective, your little one must be duly immunized from deadly diseases. You, the parent or guardian of your child, must be an Australian resident.
Determining Entitlements
The listed three factors determine your family’s level of child care subsidy:
- Your combined annual taxable family income
- Combined hours of recognized activity undertaken by you and your partner, whether training, study or work, including voluntary and self-employment
- Child care service type chosen
Navigating Claims
Subsidies cannot be claimed in a lump sum, and the most convenient way to apply for them is online. Create a myGov account, connect it to Centrelink, confirm your identity, and set the ball rolling.
Alternately you can place a call on the Families Line on working days between 8 am to 8 pm. The documents you need to submit to initiate the claim include financial, employment, residential, and medical proof.
To prove the child is your biological offspring, adopted or came into existence via surrogacy, relevant birth, and change of care documents are presented. You can either upload these documents online, mail, or fax them to the concerned authorities.
On submitting your claim, an ID number is generated, and you are given a receipt as proof of submission. A link to track the progress of your claim request is also shared with you.
Managing Payments
You are duty-bound to provide accurate information, so you receive your rightful dues by way of subsidy. Updating your personal information whenever the need arises is a must.
Authorities concerned need to be informed about changes in your family income, employment, relationship status, or any other relevant detail which impacts this payment.
At times, a small percentage of your subsidy entitlement paid to the child care provider is withheld. This step reduces the chances of low-income families incurring a debt towards the end of the financial year. By no means does it deprive you of your overall entitlements to the child care subsidy program.
Approach a recognized agency for further clarity on your entitlements so you can avail of the subsidy provision. An organization that does not work for profit supports families who need home care services by connecting them to qualified educators.
