The Federal Government provides families with some financial assistance to reduce the cost of childcare.

Child Care Benefit (CCB)

The Child Care Benefit is a payment to help families who use approved and registered childcare. To receive the benefit you must meet the income test, immunisation and residency requirements. To find out if you're eligible, see the Family Assistance Office website.

You must register with one of our services at the Family Assistance Office (FAO) prior to enrolment:

• Please ensure that you advise Centrelink of the service you are using, and whether you are claiming the CCB rebate at the end of the financial year or as a fee reduction at time of enrolment.
• Parents wishing to claim CCB at the end of the financial year must still register with FAO and have a CRN.
• Your enrolment will NOT be accepted if the details you have provided do not match the details in our service.

How can I get Child Care Benefit?

Families need to register with the Family Assistance Office in order to receive reduced childcare fees and to be eligible to receive the Child Care Tax Rebate.

This registration requires families to provide the Family Assistance Office with the Provider Reference Number of the childcare service.

The Family Assistance Office subsequently advises the childcare service of the level of Child Care Benefit to be applied to each registered child.

You can claim Child Care Benefit by completing and lodging a claim form at any Family Assistance Office, located at Centrelink Customer Service Centres and Medicare offices or by using online services.

If you use approved care you can choose to receive your Child Care Benefit as reduced fees or as a lump sum after the end of the financial year.

How do I claim the benefit as reduced fees?

If you wish to claim Child Care Benefit as reduced fees, you must complete the Claim for Approved Child Care payments throughout the 2009 - 2010 financial year form (FA002). If you are eligible for Child Care Benefit as reduced fees, quarterly payments of Child Care Tax Rebate will be paid when the Family Assistance Office receives child care attendance details from your approved child care service/s.

To claim the benefit as reduced fees, use the reference number below to complete the claim form.

• Gladesville Kids Club CRN: 1-2O38OS

Child Care Rebate

The child care tax rebate covers 50% of a family’s out-of-pocket child care expenses for approved child care, with a rebate of up to $7,778 (indexed) per child per year, for eligible families.

Even if a family receives no actual fee reduction, they must be registered for the Child Care Benefit to receive the tax rebate.

Payments can be received quarterly or on an annual basis. Eligibility criteria applies. More information about the child care rebate is available from the Family Assistance Office website.