Extra Help with Fees
If your family is going through a tough time, the Additional Child Care Subsidy may provide some much-needed fee relief.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
The cost of living crisis means many families are feeling the pinch right now, and if you’re going through a particularly challenging time, then you might be able to get some extra help with your childcare fees.
Assuming you’re eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) is an extra payment that greatly reduces or totally removes fees, for a certain period of time.
This can give you some financial breathing space when you need it most, and although the Grandparent and Child Wellbeing ACCS types might apply to your family, we’re going to take you through the Temporary Financial Hardship and Transition to Work subsidies, which are designed to help families who are dealing with big life changes, like losing a job or trying to get one.
The Temporary Financial Hardship subsidy applies as its name suggests.
This subsidy is for families who find themselves having real trouble paying childcare fees, after experiencing a temporary financial hardship because of an event that’s happened in the last six months.
This subsidy covers truly terrible life events, like the death of a partner or child, or the destruction of a home.
However, something like losing your job, or suffering loss of income because of circumstances outside your control, may constitute a temporary financial hardship event.
If you are eligible for this ACCS, then you’ll be able to get 100 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight for your child, for up to 13 weeks per temporary financial hardship event.
Generally speaking, this subsidy will mean that you pay nothing for the 100 hours of childcare, and can focus on getting through the immediate challenge your family is facing.
Meanwhile, the Transition to Work subsidy is for parents or carers who are moving to work from income support.
To qualify for this ACCS, you need to have a family income of $85,279 or less, and meet certain activity requirements, which include studying, job-hunting, working or training.
There are time limits associated with these activities, and you also need to be getting one of the payments prescribed by this ACCS, such as a Parenting Payment or JobSeeker Payment.
The Transition to Work subsidy then plays out in different ways, depending on your activity level and type of activity.
This means that if you’re looking for a job, you can get the Transition to Work subsidy for up to 26 weeks, and if you’re studying a Bachelor Degree part-time, you could get it for up to 312 weeks!
There’s more detail here, and when it comes to fee assistance, the government will either pay 95% of the childcare fees you’re charged, or 95% of the hourly rate cap.
Even if you’re not eligible for an Additional Child Care Subsidy, it is comforting to know that families can apply for extra help with fees in times of need.
Life is expensive right now, and quality education and care always essential, so we’re grateful for all and any government assistance, and this KindiCare article is helpful too.
It contains five ways that you may be able to reduce your childcare costs, and we wish you luck!
