Financial Assistance
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Who Can Apply for Child care Fee Subsidy? Who Do I contact to get subsidized Child Care? How Do I Qualify for Fee Assistance? Is there an Income Cut-Off for Fee Subsidy? How much Fee subsidy will I Qualify for? Is there a Waitlist for Fee Subsidy? How long will I be on the Waitlist?
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Do all the Child Care Programs in Peterborough Have
Subsidized Spaces?
Where can I find a list of Licensed
Child Centres and Licensed Home Day Care
Programs?
Can I receive Subsidy for a Private
Babysitter?
Does the City of Peterborough Provide
Transportation To the Child Care Centres?
Maintaining Your Eligibility
Eligibility Concerns or Complaints
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What is Fee Subsidy for Child Care?
A fee subsidy is financial assistance available to
eligible residents of the City and
Subsidies are available in a variety of licensed
childcare settings. Parents choose the type of care they want for their
child, either in a licensed group childcare program or with a home childcare
provider through a licensed home child care agency. To assist parents in
making a choice, a complete listing of childcare options is available under Child
Care Availability.
If parents require financial assistance in meeting the
cost of child care, they should contact the City of
Who
Can Apply for Childcare Fee Subsidy?
Residents
of the City and
Residents of the City and
Canadian Citizens, landed immigrants, refugees with a valid work permit
or school authorization: You will be required to
provide current and valid documentation regarding your status in
Working parents: Childcare assistance is available only for
those days/hours that you are working, taking into account reasonable travel
time to and from work.
Self-employed parents: You are generally
considered to be self-employed if you are actively conducting a full-time
self-employed activity and you claim business expenses against your income.
Students: You must be attending school or a recognized training program on
a regular basis. Childcare assistance is available for those days/hours that
you are attending classes, tutorials or labs, taking into account reasonable
travel time to and from school.
Household with Special Needs: If you require
childcare due to your own special needs or as a support in meeting the special
needs of your child, you will be required to provide written documentation from
a social welfare agency, a doctor or other professional regarding the need for
childcare. Contact the Children’s Services Division for a referral form
or to receive information regarding other specialized services for children
with special needs.
If you’re looking for work: You are not eligible for subsidy
while you are looking for work. However, if you intend to work or attend
school, plan ahead by applying for subsidy well in advance. You will be
contacted when subsidy is available and you will be required to verify
work/school before admission into care is confirmed.
Who
Do I Contact to Get Subsidized Child Care?
The first step is to contact the
Children’s Services at
You
should plan to apply for subsidy well in advance of when you will require
assistance, as there is periodically a waitlist for funding.
**Please
note that if you decide to place your child into a childcare program while you
are waiting for subsidy, you will be responsible for the full cost of childcare
until funding is available.
If you are participating in the Ontario Works program and need child
care, contact your caseworker at Peterborough Social Services,
The information you provide during your phone intake application will be
used to determine if you might qualify. If you appear to qualify, your
name will be placed on the subsidy waiting list. Your eligibility cannot
be confirmed until your name gets close to the top of the subsidy waiting
list. At that time, you will be contacted and a verification appointment
will be scheduled at the Peterborough Social Services Family Centre at
How
Do I Qualify for Fee Assistance?
Effective January 1, 2007 a
Provincial income test has replaced the needs test (formerly Form 1) in order
to determine whether a family is financially eligible for assistance with the
cost of child care.
For the purpose of income testing,
the definition of income is “adjusted income” as defined by the federal
government for purposes of the Child Tax Benefit. This definition includes net income from line
236 of the Notice of Assessment.
A
Children’s Services Case Manager will conduct an “Income Test” during the
telephone intake. There are legislated limits for determining who
qualifies and who doesn’t. All applicants follow the same process.
If it appears that you qualify for a fee subsidy, you will be booked for a
verification interview when your name reaches the top of the waitlist.
Income Test
Families
whose net adjusted income is $20,000 or less will be eligible for full
subsidy: whose adjusted income is more
than $20,000 will pay a
percentage
of their income to the cost of child care.
To determine the annual parental contribution
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Total
Adjusted Annual Income – obtained from NOA less UCCB, or CCTB |
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0%
of income up to $20,000 |
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10%
of income between $20,000 and $40,000 |
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30%
of income over $40,000 |
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Total
annual contribution used for calculations of parental contribution |
With in-year Decreases in Income
A parent may reapply during the year for a decrease
in the amount he or she pays for the cost of child care if the parent has a
reduction in their adjusted income of 20 per cent or more during the year
compared to their adjusted income, by contacting Children’s Services.
Is There an Income Cut-Off for Fee Subsidy?
No.
Fee subsidy eligibility is based on an income assessment, which takes into
account what income is reported on line 236 of your Federal Notice of
Assessment or Child Tax Benefit Notice.
Eligibility is determined by provincially mandated guidelines with
respect to income.
How
Much Fee Subsidy Will I Qualify For?
Whether
you qualify for a full or partial fee subsidy depends on the outcome of your
income test during the verification interview.
For
families who are self employed, commissioned sales person or a sub-contractor,
their “eligible hours of care” would be determined based on their NOA line 236
and the current minimum wage.
Income
Verification (for all adults in the family)
Current
Federal Notice of Assessment and verification of the Universal Child Tax
Benefit
(if it is being received), or Canada Child Tax
Benefit Notice
Custody
Arrangements
Legal documentation, divorced papers, or other written agreement
verifying custody arrangements (if applicable) will be required.
Eligible
Hours of Care
One month of pay stubs and letter from employer regarding the hours you
work
School
schedule and enrolment letter that documents start and end dates.
For
families who are self employed, commissioned sales person or a sub-contractor,
their “eligible hours of care” would be determined based on their NOA line 236
and the current minimum wage.
Is
There a Waitlist for Fee Subsidy?
Periodically,
we have been in a waitlist situation.
The waitlist is based on a first come first serve basis. The client will be informed by letter
/telephone, or both when assistance is made available.
How
Long Will I Be on the Waitlist?
That
depends on the number of other eligible clients on the waitlist.
Do All the Child Care Programs in Peterborough
Licensed
child care programs in the City and County of Peterborough must have a purchase
of service agreement with the City of Peterborough to be eligible to accept
subsidized families.
Where Can I Find a Listing of Licensed Childcare
Centers
Under the
Child
Care Availability section of this website, in the yellow pages under
“daycare,” at the Ontario Early Years Centre at www.pfrc.ca,
or at Peterborough County-City Health Unit at 705-743-1000.
Can I Receive Subsidy for a Private Babysitter?
No. Only
licensed childcare spaces are eligible for a fee subsidy. If you are in receipt
of Ontario Works, please inquire about childcare options offered for Ontario
Works clients.
Does the City of Peterborough
No.
Transportation is the responsibility of the parent.
Maintaining Your Eligibility
Reporting
Changes in Your Situation: It is your responsibility to immediately notify your Children’s
Services Case Manager of any changes that occur in your situation. This
includes changes in your income, residence, marital status, household size,
employment or schooling, immigration status, etc. Your Children’s
Services Case Manager will advise you whether these changes will require you to
attend an in-person interview to review your eligibility/fee. Failure to
meet your responsibility for reporting changes is a criminal offence and may
result in suspension of your childcare subsidy, recovery of fees paid on your
behalf, and/or legal action.
Face
to face/In-Person Reviews: When subsidy becomes available to you, an in-person interview
will be scheduled to confirm your eligibility and your child care fee. At
least once every 12 months thereafter, a case review will be scheduled to
reassess your ongoing eligibility. Both parents, if applicable,
should attend these interviews where possible. A checklist outlining the
information necessary to complete this interview will be sent to you.
Without this information, we will be unable to complete the interview and you
may be in jeopardy of losing your subsidy.
Verification
Letters and Requests for Information: It is important that you respond to all
letters and/or requests for information by the deadline date given. This
will ensure that your childcare subsidy is maintained. If you have any
questions about any correspondence received, please contact your Children’s
Services Case Manager immediately.
Looking
for Work: If
you are receiving subsidy and become unemployed or complete your studies,
subsidy may continue for four weeks while you job search.
Should you be unsuccessful in securing employment, subsidy will be withdrawn.
Parental
Leave Due to a Birth:
Parental leave is a special break in service granted to families who have had a
birth in the family. It permits the other enrolled, actively subsidized
siblings to continue receiving fee assistance for up to ten (10) days after the
birth. This allows the family to remain actively subsidized while the
mother is still in the hospital or recovering from the delivery.
After the
ten days are over, the subsidy will be stopped since a parent will be available
to look after the children and the new baby. If this happens:
· The family will no longer be
subsidized and child care fee assistance will be discontinued;
· When the parent returns to work or
school, the children will be reinstated if space and funding are available.
If the
parent decides to return to work, school, or a training program in six weeks
after the baby is born:
· Existing child care arrangements
will continue; and
· Verification from the employer or
educational program will be required within six weeks to confirm the parent’s
returning status.
The Child
Care Operator must realize that parents can only provide an approximate date
for when the baby will be born and providing ten days notice is not a
reality. The parents must contact Children’s Services and staff will
confirm ongoing approval or a withdrawal date with the Operator.
Transfers: Families who wish to transfer
their child to another child care provider must contact their
Children’s Services Case Manager first.
Withdrawals: If you no longer require subsidized childcare,
notify both your Children’s Services Case Manager and the childcare
program. At least two weeks notice of withdrawal is required, and you are
responsible for paying any outstanding fees. Some programs require
additional notice and you are advised to discuss policies with the childcare
operator. Please contact your Children’s Services Case Manager
immediately if there are extenuating circumstances which prevent you from
giving appropriate notice.
Attendance: Your child is expected to
attend the childcare program on a regular basis, and you are required to notify
the supervisor or childcare provider if your child will be absent for any
reason. Programs may have individual policies relating to absences that
you should ensure you are familiar with.
Eligibility Concerns or Complaints?
Your
Children’s Services Case Manager can help you with most of your concerns.
If you still have eligibility or fee subsidy questions, please contact our
office at 705-748-8830 ext 3495. You have the right to appeal Children’s
Services policy by submitting a letter of appeal to your Children’s Services
Case Manager. The Program Manager of Children’s Services, reviews appeals
and any decision reached will be communicated to you.
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Developed by:
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All contents copyright © 2007
All rights reserved
Revised: 2007