The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit offers up to $1,250 to eligible parents to help pay for child care costs.
Child care is a costly investment, especially for those with lower incomes and parents who work or study full-time.
To help alleviate some of this burden, the B.C. government has implemented a province-wide affordable child care benefit. The intent of this benefit program is to make child care more affordable and more accessible for low and middle-income families.
Key Takeaways
- The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit offers up to $1,250 per month to help parents pay for child care costs.
- Family size, income, residency status, and reasons for needing childcare help determine eligibility.
- Applicants ages 25 years old and younger are also eligible for the Young Parents Program.
- Child care providers can apply to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative to lower their own costs while further helping parents with child care fees.
What is the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit?
The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is a provincial program that provides a monthly payment for families in British Columbia to help pay for child care expenses. The ACCB provides up to $1,250 per month in cash payments to eligible families.
The amount of support a family receives depends on many factors. These include:
- The size of the family
- Family income
- The type of care required
- Residency and citizenship status
- The reason for needing child care
B.C. child care subsidy eligibility
To qualify for the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit, you must meet four main eligibility requirements before receiving this benefit. These include:
- Your income level
- The type of care required
- Your residency and citizenship status
- The reason(s) you require child care
1. Income level
Families earning less than $111,000 qualify for the child care subsidy in B.C., but it’s still possible to qualify if you earn more. This depends on how significant your deductions are for family size or children with special needs.
The income requirement may be waived under the following circumstances:
- You’re taking care of someone else’s child as part of a Ministry of Children and Family Development placement
- You’re taking care of someone else’s child as part of an agreement under Indigenous law
2. Type of care
There are four different types of child care included in the eligibility requirements for the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit. To be considered eligible, your children can receive care at:
- A licensed child care facility
- An unlicensed child care facility
- An unregistered and unlicensed child care facility
- In the child’s own home
Licensed child care
A licensed child care centre must meet regulations for eligibility, and regular visits from a social worker may be necessary to ensure rules and regulations are followed.
To be considered eligible, a licensed care centre must meet requirements related to:
- Staffing qualifications
- Record keeping
- Programming
- Health and safety
- Space and equipment
- Child-to-staff ratios
Registered unlicensed child care
The B.C. child care subsidy provides substantial support for unlicensed child care providers registered with the Child Care Resource and Referral Centre.
Unlicensed child care providers must meet certain conditions in order to be eligible for support, such as:
- Performing criminal background checks for everyone over 12 years of age living in the same home
- Obtaining certification for first aid training
- Completing a course or workshop in child care
- Undergoing a home safety assessment
- Character references
Unlicensed child care
Parents remain eligible for the subsidy if your child receives care from an unlicensed care provider, defined as a home-based daycare caring for up to two children or a group of siblings (not part of the carer’s own family).
Even though these child care providers are not registered or licensed, they can still operate legally in B.C. Unlicensed child care providers are not vetted by the Ministry of Health.
Unlicensed child care centres are not required to comply with provincial health and safety standards. Parents or guardians are responsible for monitoring the well-being and security of their children in these care settings.
Child’s home-based care
Parents may arrange for their child to be cared for at home by babysitters or nannies. Relatives who care for the child in-home are not eligible for this subsidy.
No inspection or monitoring of this form of care is required. Parents must properly vet these providers to ensure the applicant is qualified and the children will be safe and well cared for.
3. Residency and citizenship status
To be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, an applicant must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have refugee status.
Individuals who are not Canadian citizens but have immigrated here and legally obtained permanent resident status also qualify. The provincial government also considers protected persons as eligible for subsidies.
A current B.C. address is also required.
4. Reason for child care
Eligibility for the Affordable Child Care Benefit requires parents to meet one of the following criteria before applying:
- Have a child attending a licensed preschool
- Attend school
- Work or be self-employed
- Participate in an employment program
- Be looking for work (if a single parent or guardian)
- Live with a medical condition that limits the ability to care for the child
- Receive a referral from the Ministry of Child and Family Development
- Receive a referral from a Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker
How much can I receive from the Affordable Child Care Benefit?
Parents in British Columbia can receive between $147 to $1,250 in Affordable Child Care Benefits.
Five factors determine how much funding you qualify for, including these:
- Family size: The total number of children you have impacts how much money you receive – in general, the more children you have, the more money you get.
- Household income: Parents’ or guardians’ gross income, based on a CRA Notice of Assessment (minus deductions), affects how much money they will receive.
- Children with special needs: An additional $150 per month can be awarded towards the care cost for children with special needs. The combined amount of the supplement and the standard ACCB cannot be higher than the care provider’s rate.
- Types of child care: Your child’s age and the type of care they require also affect the benefit amount.
- The amount of child care needed: Eligible parents needing more child care will likely receive a larger amount of funding; parents needing only part-time child care will receive a prorated amount.
Comparison of example families
The Affordable Child Care Benefit Estimator enables you to determine the estimated funding you may receive each month.
The table below offers hypothetical examples of various family situations and corresponding levels of funding, according to the Affordable Child Care Benefit Estimator. These amounts are estimates, and do not take into account families caring for children with special needs.
Also, parents may be eligible for higher amounts during the summer for their school-aged children.
| Family | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Marital status | Single | Married | Single | Married |
| Gross family income | $25,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
| Children age & type of care | * Child 1: Under 18 months * Full-time with licensed group facility | * Child 1: 19-36 months * Full-time care with licensed family * Child 2: 3-5 years old * Part-time care with licensed family (half days, Mon-Fri) | * Child 1: 6-12 years old *Full-time care with licensed group facility * Child 2: 3-5 years old * Full-time care with licensed group facility * Child 3: Under 18 months * Full-time care with licensed group facility | * Child 1: Under 18 months *Full-time care with licensed family * Child 2: 19-36 months * Full-time care with licensed family * Child 3: 3-5 years old *Full-time care at licensed preschool * Child 4: 6-12 years old * Part-time care with licensed family (half days, Mon-Fri) |
| Estimated ACCB benefit | * $1,250 per month | * Child 1: $981 per month * Child 2: $207 per month | * Child 1: $73 per month * Child 2: $193 per month * Child 3: $440 per month | * Child 1: $211 per month * Child 2: $211 per month * Child 3: $47 per month * Child 4: $36 per month |
How will I get Affordable Child Care Benefit payments?
Affordable Child Care Benefit payments are paid out by cheque or direct deposit. In most cases, payments are sent to the child care provider after they submit a claim form each month.
After the benefit amount is deducted from the provider’s fee, the parent, parents, or guardian pay the balance.
How to apply for the Affordable Child Care Benefit
To receive this benefit, you'll need to fill out an application form. Once you begin, you have 60 days to complete the application process.
When complete, print the application form and send it via mail or fax.
To apply electronically, follow these steps:
Step 1: Gather all required information
The information and documentation needed to complete the benefit application include:
- The name, date of birth, and gender for yourself, your spouse, and your children
- Digital images of government-issued identification (birth certificate, passport, driver's licence, permanent residency card, etc.) for each family member
- A completed copy of the Child Care Arrangement Form with a selected child care provider
- Supporting documents to prove your need for child care (employment, attending school, etc.)
- Either the Special Needs Supplement Form (CF2951) (PDF) or proof of federal Child Disability Benefit for any children with special needs
- Your spouse’s email address (if applicable)
Step 2: Fill out the application
Fill out the application form once you have assembled the required documentation. Apply online at B.C.’s My Family Services portal.
Complete and submit the form within 60 days of starting it. Otherwise, you’ll have to start over again.
Step 3: Submit the application online, through mail, or by fax
You can submit your application online, through mail, or by fax. Don’t forget to include all the required documentation – your application will be delayed if it is missing documents.
It may take up to 20 days to process electronic applications and up to 3 weeks or more for those received via mail or fax.
Below are the mailing address and fax details:
Child Care Service Centre
PO Box 9953 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9R3
Fax
1-877-544-0699 (Remember to include a cover page)
Step 4: Anything else?
Before submitting your application, include any other information that supports your need for the child care subsidy.
This could include:
- Whether you have an employer or are self-employed
- If you have a medical condition that obstructs your ability to care for your children
What is the Young Parent Program?
Parents under 25 years of age may qualify for the Young Parent Program, which provides up to $1,500 per month to help cover child care costs. This is in addition to funding you may receive with the Affordable Child Care Benefit.
Eligible parents are also entitled to a space for their child in a care program at or near their child’s school.
To qualify for the Young Parent Program, you must apply for the Affordable Child Care Benefit. You must also meet these requirements:
- Be a B.C. resident
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, Convention refugee, or person in need of protection
- Be under 25 years old
- Have a child born on or before parent’s 20th birthday
- Be in school for purpose of completing grade 12
- Have a child enrolled in child care facility that is licensed, operating, and approved by the Young Parents Program
What is the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) offers funding for child care providers to help them lower fees. CCFRI fees also help child care providers with operating and administrative costs.
This in turn makes care more affordable for parents. Parents with children at care centres participating in the CCFRI can save up to $900 per month, per child, on care fees.
To qualify, child care providers – not parents – must apply for their facilities to take part in this initiative.
How families can save money with the CCFRI
Parents can search for a care centre taking part in this initiative in order to become eligible for fees reductions – use the Child Care Map to find a provider participating in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.
Use the CCFRI Estimator to estimate how much you may save if your child is cared for at a CCFRI facility.
Fee reduction rates for full-time care
Parents can save up to $900 in child care fees per month, per child, if their child is enrolled at a care centre participating in the CCFRI. Parents with children in part-time care will also save, but those rates will be prorated.
Here is a guide as to how much money the CCFRI may save you, depending on your child’s age and the type of care they receive:
| Age | Type of care | Max amount of savings |
|---|---|---|
| Infant and toddler (under 36 months) | * Group care * Family care | * $900/month * $600/month |
| Ages 3 to Kindergarten | * Group care * Family care | * $545/month * $500/month |
| Preschool | * Preschool care | * $95/month |
| Kindergarten | * Group and family care | * $320/month |
| Grade 1 to age 12 | * Group care * Family & in-home multi-age care | * $115/month * $145/month |
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What is the Affordable Child Care Benefit?
The Affordable Child Care Benefit is a provincially-funded monthly benefit intended to help offset child care costs for families or guardians who have kids under the age of 12. Families can receive up to $1,250 per month.
What is the B.C. child care subsidy?
The B.C. Child Care Subsidy is also known as the Affordable Child Care Benefit. It’s a monthly payment to help offset the cost of child care for parents of children ages 0 - 12 years old.
How much can I get from the Affordable Child Care Benefit?
This depends on several factors, including your gross income, family size, number of children with special needs, amount of child care needed, and the type of care your child receives. The max you cany receive is $1,250 per month.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Affordable Child Care Benefit?
Eligibility requirements for the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit are based on a variety of criteria, including income level, types of care required, residency and citizenship status, and the reasons for requiring child care.
Does everyone get the affordability grant?
No, there are eligibility requirements involved that not everyone will meet. Plus, parents must apply for the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit. Even if you're eligible, you must submit an application in order to receive benefit payments.
How much is the monthly child care benefit in Canada?
You may receive up to $648.91 monthly for each child 6 years and younger, and up to $547.50 monthly for children aged 6 to 17. The max benefit payment you can receive is $1,250 per month.
How much does subsidy pay for childcare in BC?
Depending on the size of your family, your income level, residency status, and reasons for needing child care, you may receive between $147 and $1,250 per month from the Affordable Child Care Benefit program.
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