THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY SYSTEM EXPLAINED

The childcare subsidy is a means tested benefit based on your family’s combined income, the fortnightly activity of families such as work, study or volunteering.

There is a very broad range of eligible activities that they will recognize so please ensure you try to get the maximum hours you are entitled to so your benefit can be maximized.

PAYMENTS :

IF YOUR FAMILY EARNS :

$0 – $66958                                                                       85%

more than $66958 – below $171,958   between 85% and $50%. The %

goes down for every $3k of income

$171,958 – $251,248                                                     50%

$251,248 – $$341,248                                  between 50% and 20% (as above)

$341,248 – $351,248                                                     20%

$351,248 or more                                                          zero

There is NO ANNUAL CAP up to $186,958 but between this $186 and $351,248 there will be an annual cap of $10190 per annum.

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES : ( no evidence is required at the time you declare your hours) register on MYGOV

PAID WORK  : includes paid leave, paid or unpaid parental or maternity leave or self employed

STUDY OR TRAINING: includes being enrolled in an approved course of education or study or being enrolled in a training course for the purpose of improving ones work skills

UNPAID WORK : includes unpaid work in a family business, setting up a business or unpaid work experience or internships.

LOOKING FOR WORK : includes looking for job vacancies, preparing resumes and job applications, contacting potential employers , preparing and attending job interviews

SETTING UP A BUSINESS: includes obtaining finance, advice and support, attending and organizing meetings and networking, developing business and marketing plans

VOLUNTEERING : includes voluntary work to improve work skills or employment prospects. It could be work for a charity, a school, preschool or a day care centre. (not sport coaching or canteen duties)

YOU CAN ALSO CLAIM TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN YOUR CHILDCARE CENTRE AND YOUR WORKPLACE, TRAINING OR STUDY VENUES

You can also estimate your activity over a 3 month period.

The more activity you undertake – the more hours of subsidized care you may be able to claim up to 100 hours per fortnight. The following is what will be given to you depending on your hours:

8-16 per fortnight will receive 36 hours per fortnight

16-48 per fortnight will receive 72 hours per fortnight

more than 48 hours per fortnight will receive 100 hours per fortnight

If you have a preschool child and do not work or cannot cover any of the above activities you are exempt as all preschool children are expected to have Kinder two years prior to school

PLEASE INCLUDE ALL ACTIVITIES SO THEY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR SUBSIDY EVEN YOUR WEEKEND ACTIVITY CAN COUNT

It is important to estimate the highest number of hours you may require to give you the flexibility to pick up additional hours of work and know that care will be available.

HOW TO APPLY:

Australian department of human services ( there is a step by step guide on this website)

Complete your online assessment through your centrelink online account through your MYGOV app or centrelink site. You will then receive a letter through your MYGOV notifying you of your subsidy % and the eligible hours per fortnight and your annual cap if one applies

If you do not yet have a centrelink account then please create one through

MYGOV.AU and link it.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONFIRMING YOUR ENROLLMENT.

MYGOV HELPLINE 132307 option 1