Eligibility
You may qualify for Child Care Benefit if:
- you use approved or registered child care, and
- your child is immunised (or on an immunisation catch up schedule), or is exempt from the immunisation requirements, and
- you are responsible for paying the child care fees for your child.
Work, training, study test for Child Care Benefit
You may be eligible for up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for approved child care per week if you meet the work, training, study test. To meet the test, you and your partner must undertake work or work-related activities such as training or studying for at least 15 hours per week. You may be exempt from the work/training/study test.
Approved child care
Approved child care services have Australian Government approval to pass on Child Care Benefit to families as a reduction in their child care fees. Most long day care, family day care, before and after school care, vacation care, some in-home care and occasional care services offer approved care.
All eligible families can get up to 24 hours of Child Care Benefit for approved care per child per week.
Registered care
Registered care is child care provided by grandparents or other relatives, friends or nannies who are registered as carers with the Australian Government’s Family Assistance Office. It may also be provided by individuals in preschools, kindergartens, some outside school hours care services and some occasional care centres.
If you have children in registered care, you receive your Child Care Benefit entitlement by way of direct credit to your nominated account after you lodge a claim and receipts for child care already provided and paid for.
You can only claim Child Care Benefit for registered care if you are working, studying or training at some time during the week when the care is provided.
Guardians, foster parents and grandparents
If you are a guardian, including foster parents and grandparents, responsible for the day-to-day care of children or grandchildren you may also be eligible for Child Care Benefit.
Absences from Child Care
Child Care Benefit is paid for up to 42 absence days from care for each child per financial year across all approved care services including;
- Long Day Care
- Family Day Care
- In home Care
- Outside School Hours Care, except Occasional Care.
Absence days from child care can be for any reason and will not require supporting documents. Absences from child care that exceed 42 days may affect the amount of Child Care Benefit you receive. Child Care Benefit can only be paid for absences above 42 days if they meet specific absence reasons and supporting documents are provided. Your service provider can advise you of these reasons.
For Occasional Care, Child Care Benefit is paid for an absence if the child care has been booked and paid for at the Occasional Care service. There is no limit on the number of absences for Occasional Care.
Families can access their child's absence record on their View Child Care Attendance online statement available on the Centrelink website, under Online services.
More information
- Are you a grandparent or relative caring for children brochure
- Child Care Benefit section
- The Absences from child care - Child Care Benefit (CCB) factsheet
On the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website
On the Family Assistance Office website
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