Claiming Child Care Subsidy – A step by step guide
We know that beginning a claim for Child Care Subsidy can often be a complex and confusing process for many families.
We want all families to have as much information as possible to ensure they are able to not only make a claim for the Child Care Subsidy but are also able to understand how it is calculated so they can maximise their entitlements.
Here are a few resources that can help you understand more about the Child Care Subsidy:
- Understanding how the Child Care Subsidy is calculated
- Understanding what recognised activities are
- Understanding how your family income affects your entitlements
Using the Child Care Subsidy Calculator, will also help to give you an idea of the entitlements and benefits your family may receive and any out-of-pocket costs you may need to pay.
Need a little help beginning your Child Care Subsidy claim? We have created our own step-by-step guide that we hope will help make the process of claiming your Child Care Subsidy just that little bit easier!
Before you begin your claim
In order to easily claim the Child Care Subsidy, it’s important that you have a myGov account and that your myGov account is connected to Centrelink.
Here is a guide to help you set up a myGov account.
Here is a guide to help you link Centrelink to your myGov account.
Beginning your claim
- Sign in to your myGov account.
- Click on the Centrelink icon which is located halfway down the webpage.
- You will then be navigated away from myGov to the Centrelink homepage.
- On the Centrelink homepage, click on ‘Payments and claims’ along the top black menu bar.
- Select ‘Make a claim or view claim status’ from the dropdown menu.
- Click on the blue ‘Make a claim button‘.
- Scroll down the webpage until you see the ‘Families’ box (it should be in the centre about halfway down the webpage). Click on the white ‘Get started’ button inside the Families box.
- Click on the blue ‘Apply for Family Assistance Payments (including Paid Parental Leave)’ button.
You will need to answer a couple of eligibility check questions first to make sure you are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy.
A box will appear identifying if you are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy Claim. If you are, you can begin your claim!
Start your Child Care Subsidy claim and answer the questions about your family and financial situation.
You can then review, confirm and submit your claim.
If your claim is successful, you will receive a notification in your myGov inbox.
If you can’t claim online, you can call Centrelink on the Centrelink families line. They will then work through the claiming process with you.
You don’t need to go to a service centre to make a claim for Child Care Subsidy. After you have made a claim over the phone, they will contact you if they need more details. They will then send you a letter to let you know your claim outcome. If your claim is successful, they’ll let you know:
- when you’ll get your first payment
- how much you’ll get
Ready to Enrol at Sustainable Play Preschool?
Our team would love to meet your family and show you around our wonderful Preschool! Sustainable Play Preschool is a small Preschool with a focus on engaging children thoughtfully with the natural world every day. Our play-based curriculum holistically prepares children to thrive and includes cooking classes, bush kindy, yoga sessions, gardening and regeneration classes, art and STEM activities!
We also offer families the option of booking casual days at our Preschool with no pressure to commit to an ongoing enrolment. You can pick the dates that you need care and cease care whenever you want!
Written By
Jenny joined the Sustainable Play Preschool team in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts, Communications and a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University.
Whilst always interested in the power of nature, it was with the birth of her own daughter that she gained a greater appreciation for just how precious (and fleeting) childhood is, and the importance of providing children with a nature centric early learning experience.