The two sides of eligibility; your family & the service type
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a government subsidy or rebate. Financial assistance may also depend on what type of service you have your child enrolled in.
Child care subsidies - Australia
You can get Child Care Subsidy (CCS) 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 must meet certain requirements to receive CCS.
The amount of CCS you receive depends on:
- your income - you may be eligible for some CCS with a combined family income up to $340,000
- the type of care you use, for example long day care or vacation care
- the amount of care you use
- meeting a work activity test - a minimum of 8 hours of approved activity per fortnight. Work activity includes paid or self-employed work, looking for work, unpaid work in a family business, volunteering or studying
- the number of children in care
Detailed information can be found at Centrelink.
Child care subsidies - New Zealand
New Zealand residents can apply for Childcare Subsidy (for under 5's or under 6's if you're receiving Disability Allowance for your child) or OSCAR (for after school or vacation care).
You could get help with up to nine hours of child care a week if you’re not working, studying or training, and up to 50 hours a week if you’re:
- working, studying or on an approved training course, or
- involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do, or
- a shift worker who works nights, or
- seriously ill or disabled, or
- caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Child Disability Allowance for.
Source: http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/
For more information about OSCAR visit http://www.oscarnz.org.nz/