Help with childcare costs
A Childcare Subsidy can help with the costs of childcare while you're studying. The OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) Subsidy can help cover the costs of care outside of school for school age children. There are also other forms of assistance.
On this page:
How to Apply
When you check what you can get, you will find out if you are entitled to Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy, and can apply online.
If you can't apply online, download this Childcare and OSCAR Subsidy application form.
General Childcare Subsidy criteria
A Childcare Subsidy can help pay childcare costs for children under 5 (or under 6 if you get a Child Disability Allowance for the child).You may be able to get up to 50 hours a week for each child while you're studying on an approved course. If your partner is able to take care of the child you may only be eligible for 9 hours Childcare Subsidy a week. The child has to attend the childcare or pre-school service at least 3 hours a week.
How much you can get depends on your income and how many children you have. The payment is made directly to the childcare or pre-school service.
OSCAR – Out of School Care and Recreation
If your children are aged 5-13 years and you have a partner who is working or studying, you may be able to get an OSCAR Subsidy to help with before and after school care, and care during the school holidays on an OSCAR approved programme.
You may be able to get up to 20 hours a week, and 50 hours per week during school holidays, for each child while you're studying. The child has to attend the programme for at least 3 hours a week.
How much you can get depends on your income and how many children you have. The payment is made directly to the programme.
Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy rates
| Number of Children | If your weekly income before tax is… | Then the Childcare Subsidy per hour, per child from 1 April 2009 is… |
| 1 | Less than $1,274.00 | $3.63 |
| $1,274.00 to $1,379.99 | $2.52 | |
| $1,380.00 to $1,485.99 | $1.40 | |
| $1,486.00 or more | nil | |
| 2 | Less than $1,465.00 | $3.63 |
| $1,465.00 to $1,580.99 | $2.52 | |
| $1,581.00 to $1,697.99 | $1.40 | |
| $1,698.00 or more | nil | |
| 3 or more | Less than $1,634.00 | $3.63 |
| $1,634.00 to $1,771.99 | $2.52 | |
| $1,772.00 to $1,909.99 | $1.40 | |
| $1,910.00 or more | nil |
*For the latest income thresholds please go to the Working for Families website.
20 Hours Early Childhood Education
The Government funds the cost of children aged three and four attending early childhood education for up to 20 hours a week. This is up to six hours a day at any teacher-led early childhood education service offering 20 Hours Early Childhood Education (20 Hours ECE), which has a place available for the child.
The childcare subsidy may still be available to support people who need extra hours on top of 20 Hours ECE.
If you would like more information about how 20 Hours ECE and the Childcare Subsidy work together, call Work and Income on 0800 559 009. If you have specific questions about 20 Hours ECE, go to the Ministry of Education website.
Young Parent Childcare Payment – Transitional payments for 2009
If you are a young parent under 18 years of age and in secondary school, who received the Young Parent Childcare Payment in December 2008, you can re-apply to get this payment for the 2009 school year.
