Subsidy

Ontario child care fee subsidy

Families can apply for the Ontario child care fee subsidy. The cost of this program is shared by the Ontario government, municipal governments and First Nations communities.

Eligibility

You can apply if your child is under 13 years old (or up to 18 years old if your child has special needs and meets other criteria*) and in either:

• a licensed child care program (centre-based, home-based or in-home services)
• a child enrolled in a “children’s recreation program”
• a camp
• a before- and after-school program operated directly by a school board

*Note: The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) came into effect on August 31, 2015. While the CCEYA defines “child” as a person who is younger than 13 years of age, children with special needs who entered the child care system before August 31, 2017 may be eligible to receive funding and financial assistance under the CCEYA until they reach 18 years of age, provided that they meet other eligibility criteria that is unrelated to age.

Funding

The amount you pay for child care depends on your family’s adjusted net income.

To calculate your net income:

• take your net income amount on line 236 of the Canada Revenue Agency personal income tax form

Then subtract:

• any federal Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) payments (the UCCB is not considered in determining a family’s child care fee subsidy)

How to apply

The Ministry of Education provides funding for fee subsidies. To apply for the child care subsidy or to get more information about this program, please contact your local:

• Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs)/District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs)