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Depending upon the level of family income a child's parents/caregivers may be eligible for a WINZ Childcare Subsidy provided for up to 9 hours a week where the parent/ caregiver is not working and up to 50 hours a week where the parent/caregiver is working or in training.  

The subsidy is only available for children up to 5 years of age (or 6 years if your child receives a Child Disability Allowance) who attend a licensed early childhood programme for 3 or more hours a week. But, it may be extended beyond the 5th birthday if the school has advised that it will not allow the child to start until the beginning of the term straight after the fifth birthday.  

Families whose children attend a service that receives 20 Hours ECE funding cannot get the Childcare Subsidy for the first 20 hours even if the service charges a "fee" (or requires an 'optional' payment).

Parents may choose to ask their ECE service provider not to include their child in the 20 Hours ECE funding scheme so that they can claim the WINZ subsidy instead for the same hours as the 20 Hours. 

 

As at 1^th April 2018 the WINZ subsidies are as follows:  

Number of children	Gross weekly total  household  income before tax	Childcare Subsidy  (per hour, per child)	Childcare Subsidy (per week, per child for 50  hours)
1	Less than $800.00	$5.13	$256.50
	$800.00 to $1,199.99	$4.09	$204.50
	$1,200.00 to $1,299.99	$2.86	$143.00
	$1,300.00 to $1,399.99	$1.59	$79.50
	$1,400.00 or more	Nil	Nil
2	Less than $920.00	$5.13	$256.50
	$920.00 to $1,279.00	$4.09	$204.50
	$1,380.00 to $1,489.99	$2.86	$143.00
	$1,490.00 to $1,599.99	$1.59	$79.50
	$1,600.00 or more	Nil	Nil
3 or more	Less than $1,030.00	$5.13	$256.50
	$1,030.00 to $1,539.00	$4.09	$204.50
	$1,540.00 to $1,669.99	$2.86	$143.00
	$1,670.00 to $1,799.99	$1.59	$79.50
	$1,800.00 or more	Nil	Nil

 

For more information and the latest updates go to the WINZ website.

Management and claim information for early childhood service members is available by clicking here to go to another article