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  1. Home
  2. Benefits, rates and forms
  3. A-Z benefits and payments
  4. Childcare Subsidy

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  • A-Z benefits
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Childcare Subsidy

Childcare Subsidy is a payment that helps families with the cost of pre-school childcare.

Information

From 1 April 2023, income thresholds and hourly rates will increase for Childcare Subsidy and Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy. More information is in our news story.

Who can get it

You may get Childcare Subsidy if:

  • you're the main carer of a dependent child
  • you're a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • your family is on a low or middle income.

You should also normally live in New Zealand and intend to stay here.

It also depends on how much you and your partner earn.

The child must be:

  • aged either:
    • under 5, or
    • over 5 if they're going to a cohort entry school (where new entrants start together on a set date after they turn 5), or
    • under 6 if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them
  • attending an approved early childhood programme for 3 or more hours a week.

Approved programmes include early childhood education and care services, eg:

  • kindergartens and preschools
  • childcare centres and creches
  • playcentres and playgroups
  • Kohanga Reo, Punanga Reo, Aoga and other programmes with a language and culture focus
  • approved home-based care.

Check if you can get Childcare Subsidy

To find out if you could get Childcare Subsidy and what else you might qualify for, use our 'Check what you might get' tool.

 
Check what you might get

A Childcare Subsidy is normally paid for up to 9 hours of childcare a week if you're not working, studying or training.

You may be able to get up to 50 hours a week if you're in one of these situations:

  • working, studying or on an approved training course
  • involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do
  • a shift worker who works nights
  • seriously ill or disabled
  • caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Disability Allowance for.

In most cases you can't get the Childcare Subsidy for more than 9 hours a week if the child's other parent or caregiver can care for them.

Families getting 20 hours Early Childhood Education (ECE) can't get the Childcare Subsidy for the same hours.

How much you get depends on:

  • the size of your family
  • your income
  • how many hours a week your child goes to the childcare provider.

Childcare assistance starts from the date the care starts (or from the date you apply if you apply after it starts). All subsidies are paid directly to the childcare provider.

View our current rates

Information

We suggest you apply at least 3 to 4 weeks before you need your subsidy to start.

We can grant you the financial assistance you're entitled to from the date you first contact us, or the date your childcare started, whichever is later, if you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.

If you're a Youth Service client, you need to talk to your Youth Service provider.

How you apply depends on whether you're applying for Childcare Subsidy only or other payments as well.

Applying for Childcare Subsidy only

What form you fill out depends on whether you're an existing client of ours or a new client.

Existing client

If you already get payments from us, you can apply online using the SmartStart website.

You'll need your:

  • RealMe login - if you haven't registered for RealMe, you'll be asked to register in SmartStart
  • income verification documents, eg, payslips
  • partner's income verification documents
  • dependent children’s birth certificates
  • Work and Income client number
  • IRD number
  • email address, so SmartStart can send you notifications during the application process.

If your (or your partner's) information has changed, you'll also need to provide proof of your identity.

You can upload your documents through SmartStart when you apply.

Apply online on SmartStart website
Register for RealMe on Department of Internal Affairs website

New client

If you don't get any payments from us, you and your partner (if you have one) need to complete the Childcare Assistance application form.

Your childcare provider also needs to complete the supervisor's section inside this form.

linksChildcare Assistance application form (PDF 699.75KB)

You can either:

  • email the application form, and any other documents we've asked you to get, to Centralised_childcare_reviews@msd.govt.nz, or
  • ask your childcare provider to send this to us on your behalf.

If you can't print the form out, you can call us to get an application form sent to you, or pick one up from your nearest service centre.

Find your nearest service centre

Applying for Childcare Subsidy and other payments

You can apply online.

 

Apply Online
The online application process

Once you've applied online, we'll tell you what you need to do. This will include having to get your childcare provider to complete the supervisor's section of the Childcare Assistance application form.

linksChildcare Assistance application form (PDF 699.75KB)

Childcare assistance is reviewed regularly. It also usually stops or is reviewed:

  • the day after your job or course ends
  • after 12 weeks if you stop work because you have a health condition or are injured
  • when your child reaches the age limit for the subsidy
  • when your child leaves the pre-school facility or Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) programme
  • if the child leaves your care.

You must also tell us straight away about any changes in your circumstances that could affect your payments, eg:

  • if you or your partner's income changes
  • if your child stops going or moves to another early childhood programme or OSCAR programme
  • if there's a change in your child's attendance
  • if the number of hours you (or your partner) work or study each week changes
  • if the reason why you get a subsidy changes, eg your health improves or your child leaves hospital
  • your child starts or stops receiving 20 Hours ECE.
Manage your childcare payments

Related

Find a childcare provider
Help with childcare costs
Manuals and procedures
20 Hours Early Childcare Education

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