Financial
Assistance
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What is Fee Subsidy for Child Care?
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
|
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 |
|
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 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, the Children’s Services Team Leader, who acts as a parent advocate
and resource person, can be reached at
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Developed by:
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All contents copyright © 2007
All rights reserved
Revised: 2007