Guide To The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit

Struggling with child care costs in British Columbia? The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit puts between $147 and $1,250 per month toward your child care costs. If your family earns under $111,000 a year, you'll likely qualify—though higher earners might still be eligible with larger families or kids with special needs.

Your benefit amount depends on your income, family size, your child's age, the type and location of the childcare you use, and whether it's full-time or part-time. If you're caring for a child with special needs, you can get an extra $150 monthly.

To qualify, you need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee living in B.C., and you need a valid reason for child care, such as working, going to school, job searching as a single parent, or having certain conditions that interfere with your ability to provide care to your children. Your child can be in licensed facilities, registered unlicensed daycares, home-based daycares (for one or two children), or cared for by a nanny or babysitter in your home.

If you're a parent under 25, you also might be eligible for the Young Parent Program which provides up to $1,500 monthly, and the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative as well could save you up to $900 per month per child at participating centers.

Do you qualify for the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit?

The B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) program can provide your family in British Columbia with a monthly payment of up to $1,250 to help pay for child care expenses. The amount of support you could receive depends on many factors:

Annual income of less than $111,000

You would generally qualify for the child care subsidy in B.C. if your annual household income is $111,000 or less. However, you still could qualify for the program if you earn more than that, depending on whether or not you have eligible deductions against your income, depending on your family size and whether or not you have children with special needs.

If your personal situation puts you into the following categories, you might find that the income requirement for the B.C. ACCB program will be waived:

• 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

Type of care

The type of environment where your child receives child care can affect your eligibility. To be considered under the program, your child must be receiving child care in one of the following four environments.

Licensed child care

A facility must meet certain criteria to be considered as a licensed child care centre, and social workers may also make regular visits to the centre to ensure the facility continues to meet those requirements:

• Staffing qualifications
• Record keeping
• Programming
• Health and safety
• Space and equipment
• Child-to-staff ratios

Registered unlicensed child care

Unlicensed child care providers that are registered with the Child Care Resource and Referral Centre can also be considered an eligible facility under the B.C. ACCB if they meet the following criteria:

• Criminal background checks for everyone over 12 years of age living in the home
• Certification for first aid training
• Completion of a course or workshop in child care
• Completion of a home safety assessment
• Character references

Unlicensed child care

If your child is receiving care from an unlicensed care provider, such as a person providing child care out of their home, you still may be eligible for the benefit if the home-based daycare is providing care for just one or two children, or a group of siblings, that are not part of the caregiver’s own family.

Even though these types of 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. You are ultimately responsible for monitoring your children's well-being and security in these types of childcare settings.

Child’s home-based care

You also might have an arrangement for babysitters or nannies to care for your child in your own home. However, relatives who care for the child in the home are not eligible for this subsidy.

There is no inspection or monitoring of this type of home-based childcare, so you must properly vet these types of childcare providers to make sure the applicant is qualified and your children will be safe and well cared for.

Residency and citizenship status

To be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, you also must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have refugee status.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, but have immigrated to Canada and have legally obtained permanent resident status, then you would also qualify. The provincial government also considers protected persons as eligible for subsidies.

You'll also be required to have a current B.C. address.

Reason for child care

You'll also need to show that you meet one or more of the criteria below to qualify for the Affordable Child Care Benefit:

• You have a child attending a licensed preschool
• You are attending school
• You are working or are self-employed
• You are participating in an employment program
• You are actively looking for work as a single parent or guardian
• You live with a medical condition that limits your ability to care for the child
• You have received a referral from the Ministry of Child and Family Development
• You have received a referral from a Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker

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How much can I receive from the Affordable Child Care Benefit?

This is the question every parent wants to know! You can receive between $147 and $1,250 in Affordable Child Care Benefits, depending on how you qualify based on the following five criteria:

• Family size: The total number of children you have impacts how much money you could receive – in general, the more children you have, the more money you may get.
• Household income: Your gross income, as shown on a CRA Notice of Assessment (minus deductions), determines how much you will receive.
• Children with special needs: You could also receive an additional $150 per month for child care costs for a child with special needs. However, the combined amount of the supplement and the standard ACCB cannot exceed the amount that you pay your childcare provider.
• 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: The more child care your child requires, the more money you are likely to receive. If your child is in part-time child care, you will likely receive a prorated amount compared to children who are in childcare full-time.

Comparing several examples of family situations

You can use the Affordable Child Care Benefit Estimator to estimate how much funding you could receive each month.

You can see a few examples of fictional families below with different childcare situations, and the estimated amounts they could receive under the Affordable Child Care Benefit. These estimates don't take into account families that are caring for children with special needs. As well, keep in mind that some families might be eligible for higher amounts during the summer for their school-aged children.

How do I receive Affordable Child Care Benefit payments?

In most cases, payments under the Affordable Child Care Benefit are sent directly to the child care provider either by cheque or direct deposit after they submit a claim form each month. The childcare provider then deducts that amount from your monthly fee, and you will pay any remaining balance. If you have in-home childcare, then the payments will usually be sent directly to you, and you will then pay the childcare provider directly.

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

You'll need to provide the following information and documentation to complete the benefit application:

• Your name, date of birth, and gender, as well as 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, by mail, or by fax

You can submit your application online, by mail, or by fax. Don’t forget to include all required documentation – your application will be delayed if any documents are missing.

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:

Mail

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, such as:

What is the Young Parent Program?

If you are a parent under the age of 25, you 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 any funding you may receive under the Affordable Child Care Benefit. If you're eligible under this program, you may also be entitled to a space for your child in a care program at or near your child’s school.

To qualify for the Young Parent Program, you must make an application for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, as well as meet these extra 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) provides funding to help child care providers lower fees. CCFRI fees also help child care providers with operating and administrative costs.

This, in turn, makes care more affordable for parents like you. You could save up to $900 per month in child care fees, per child, if your child is enrolled at a care centre participating in the CCFRI. If you have children in part-time care, you also could save on costs, although those rates would be prorated.

To qualify, child care providers – not parents – must apply for their facilities to participate in this initiative.

How families can save money with the CCFRI

You can search for childcare centres taking part in this initiative that are eligible for fee reductions by using the Child Care Map to find a provider participating in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.

You can also use the CCFRI Estimator to estimate how much you could save if your child is cared for at a CCFRI facility.

Fee reduction rates for full-time care

Here's a guide as to how much money you could save under the CCFRI, depending on your child’s age and the type of care they receive:

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