Are you looking for financial support to help cover the costs of your child’s care and early education at ProducKIDvity?
You may be eligible for financial assistance through BC’s Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB). These programs are designed to make quality childcare and education more affordable for families. Keep reading to find out how these programs can help reduce your child’s care and education costs at ProducKIDvity.
The Childcare Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) is a provincial program designed to help licensed child care providers, like ProducKIDvity, lower and stabilize child care costs for families.
Through this initiative, parents with children up to Kindergarten age enrolled in our program can save up to $900 per month on tuition fees. There’s no need for parents to apply for this BC subsidy. If your child is enrolled at ProducKIDvity or another participating provider, the discount is automatically applied.
How the Parent Fee Reduction Works
Unlike other programs, the subsidy amount under the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) isn’t based on your household income. Instead, it depends on your child’s age and whether they’re enrolled in full- or part-time care.
This initiative is designed to make childcare more affordable for families and provide children with a strong educational foundation. Previously, BC families could receive up to $350 in subsidies, but as of December 2022, this amount has increased by 201%, offering up to $900 per child, per month. Plus, you can combine this with other subsidies, like the Affordable Childcare Benefit.
Interested in how this subsidy can benefit you? Ask us when you enroll your child at ProducKIDvity.
Here’s how much you could save on full-time childcare in BC:
The Affordable Childcare Benefit (ACCB)
With this BC childcare subsidy, families earning under $111,000 annually can receive up to $1,250 per child, per month for their childcare needs. The amount awarded depends on your child’s age, your family size, and the type of care you choose. Families must apply directly to the provincial government for this benefit and renew their application annually.
Qualifications
In British Columbia, specific criteria are used to check if a family qualifies for the Affordable Child Care Benefit. Criteria includes:
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– A parent or guardian must be:
– A resident of B.C. (you must have a current B.C. address)
– A Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection
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Most types of childcare are eligible for this subsidy, including licensed group childcare like ProducKIDvity. However, care provided by a family member living with you and licensed occasional childcare are not eligible for funding.
You can use an online estimator to get an idea of how much childcare funding you might qualify for. It will ask questions about your marital status, number of children, any special needs, household income, and the type of care required. While the estimator isn’t the final word, it gives you a good sense of what to expect.
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Parents must provide one of the following reasons for requiring childcare:
Working or self-employed
Attending school
Participating in an employment program
Looking for work (only one parent or guardian)
Living with a medical condition that interferes with your ability to care for your child
Your child is attending licensed preschool
You have been referred by a Ministry of Children and Family Development or Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker
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A formula is used to calculate whether a family qualifies for a funding amount based on their annual income and deductions, or adjustments. This step is called income testing.
Generally speaking, families that earn up to $111,000 may qualify for funding. Families that earn more than $111,000, but have considerable deductions for family size or children who have special needs, can also apply.
Household income:
For most families, the level of funding is calculated based on the combined gross annual amount that a child’s parents or guardians earn, less deductions for family size and children who have a designated special need. Income is calculated based on information from your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment or an income declaration form.Here’s an example of the formula that uses income from your CRA Notice of Assessment:
Family’s adjusted annual income = total gross income (line 150) – social assistance payments (line 145) – ($2000 x (number of family members – 2)) – ($3000 x number of children who have a designated special need).This means, depending on the type of care used:
Families who earn approximately $0 to $45,000 (after adjustments are calculated) may qualify for full funding. Families that earn $45,000 to $111,000 (after adjustments are calculated) may qualify for partial funding.Item description -
Apply for funding before the end of the month in which you need child care. For example, if you would like to receive funding for child care starting September 1, you need to apply by September 30.
Savings Calculations:
Available Funding
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The number of children who are living at home and whether or not any of them have a designated special need.
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Children who have a designated special need and require extra support may be eligible for an additional $150 per month towards the cost of child care.
The combined total of the special needs supplement and the Affordable Child Care Benefit cannot be more than the rate charged by the child care provider. If it is, the supplement amount will be reduced so that the combined amount is equal to the child care provider’s rate.
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The type of child care, and age of children determines the level of funding.
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In some cases, the number of days per week that child care is needed is a factor in determining how much funding your family may receive. If you require less than 20 days of care per month, the amount of funding is prorated.
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To qualify for the Affordable Child Care Benefit, you’ll need to consent to share your income records with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This includes:
Sharing your spouse’s income information
Agreeing to have your income confirmed, even if you haven’t filed taxes in the last 2 years. If that’s the case, you’ll need to complete an Income Declaration Form for the previous year.
Resubmitting the form whenever your income changes.
Note: Families caring for someone else’s child under a Ministry of Children and Family Development placement may be exempt from income testing.
The Affordable Child Care Benefit replaces the previous Child Care Subsidy, following updates to the Child Care Subsidy Regulation.
Important: All applicants must have selected a childcare provider as part of the application process and will need to fill out a childcare arrangement form with this information. Be sure to register with ProducKIDvity when applying for the subsidy.
We're here to support you!
Quality Early Childhood Education is essential for meeting children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs. It lays the groundwork for lifelong learning and overall well-being.
We understand that navigating BC daycare subsidies and grant programs can be challenging. If you have any questions about the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative or the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit, don't hesitate to reach out to us.