Childcare
If you have children who need looking after, we may be able to help pay for childcare. We can pay for up to 50 hours a week depending on your circumstances.
We pay childcare for public holidays like Waitangi Day and anniversary days. However, most programmes close between Christmas and New Year, so payments won’t be made during this time.
Childcare before child starts school
Pre-school childcare
Childcare Subsidy is a payment that helps families with the cost of pre-school childcare.
Teen parent
You may be able to get the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment (GCAP) to help with the cost of childcare if:
- you're under 20
- you're in full-time education, training or work-based learning, and
- your child is aged either:
- under 5, or
- over 5 if the school has advised they can't start until the beginning of the term straight after their fifth birthday.
There are also other criteria you need to meet.
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment
Child is in a Family Start or Early Start Programme
The Early Learning Payment helps pay the costs of early childhood education for children aged 18 months to 3 years. These children need to be from families enrolled in selected Family Start or Early Start Programmes.
Childcare once child starts school
Before and after school care, and holiday programmes
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy is a payment which helps families with the costs of:
- before and after school care for up to 20 hours a week, and
- school holiday programmes for up to 50 hours a week.
Childcare outside of normal hours
We may be able to help with the costs of informal childcare e.g. a babysitter, if you can't access formal childcare programmes while you're at work or in employment-related study or training.
Find a childcare provider
To get Childcare Subsidy or OSCAR Subsidy, your child must be attending an approved early childhood or OSCAR programme.
Find pre-school childcare and accredited OSCAR providers in your region.
What you need to do when you get childcare payments
When you get childcare payments for your child, there are things you need to tell us so we can continue to pay your childcare and make sure we're paying the correct rate. This includes:
- telling us about any changes in your circumstances
- confirming your childcare regularly
- telling us what date your child starts school (if they're going to a cohort entry school).
What you need to do if you already get childcare payments from us