The BC Affordable Child Care Benefit is a monthly assistance program provided by the Government of British Columbia to support eligible families with child care expenses.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), combining them into a single monthly payment.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit, including who is eligible, how to apply, how much you could receive, and the payment schedule for 2024.
BC Affordable Child Care Benefit Payment Dates 2024
BC Affordable Child Care Benefits are paid on the same day as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). This means you can expect to receive your BC Affordable Child Care subsidy payments alongside your CCB.
Here are the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit Payment Dates for 2024:
- January 19, 2024
- February 20, 2024
- March 20, 2024
- April 19, 2024
- May 17, 2024
- June 20, 2024
- July 19, 2024
- August 20, 2024
- September 20, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- November 20, 2024
- December 13, 2024
If you do not receive your payment five working days after the scheduled payment date, contact the CRA at 1-800-387-1193.
Also, you can contact the BC Child Care Service Centre on 1 888 338-6622 (8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday) for any concerns about the benefit.
What is the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit?
The BC Affordable Child Care Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to eligible BC families. Like other provincial/territorial childcare benefits in Canada, the Affordable Child Care Benefit aims to help families offset the cost incurred by childcare services in Canada.
The program is sponsored by the British Columbia government and serves as a replacement for the Child Care Subsidy.
However, not all eligible families receive the same benefit amount. The amount you receive for the Affordable Child Care Benefit depends on your family size, income, type of care, etc.
Based on your family situation, you may receive a partial or full benefit on the Affordable Child Care Benefit payment dates, and you must renew your application annually to continue receiving the Affordable Child Care Benefit upon registration.
Who is Eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit?
Not every BC family is eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit. To qualify for this benefit, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Residency and Citizenship Status
The residency and citizenship status means you must be a:
- Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, Convention refugee, or someone looking for protection.
- BC resident with a valid address
2. Type of Care
The type of childcare you need also determines your eligibility for the childcare benefit. If your child receives care from a family member, occasional or recreational care, you cannot qualify for this benefit.
3. Reason for Child Care
After identifying the type of care you need, you must provide a reason for it. Here are the qualified reasons for requesting child care in BC:
- Attending school
- Working or self-employed
- Engaging in an employment program
- Job search (for one parent/guardian)
- Enrolling your child in a licensed preschool
- Health challenge that affects your ability to care for your child
- Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker or directed by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
4. Income
Income testing is conducted to calculate your family’s annual income and deductions, determining your eligibility for the Affordable Childcare Benefit.
You may qualify for the benefit if your family’s unit net income is less than $111,000. However, if your family’s unit net income is more than $111,000 but has large deductions based on your family size or if you have children with special needs, you may also be eligible for this benefit.
However, under the Ministry of Children and Family Development placement, you may be exempted from this income testing if you’re caring for someone else’s child.
How Much Affordable Child Care Benefit Can You Get?
How much you get for your BC Affordable Child Care Benefit depends on your family size, type of care, family income, etc.
There is a maximum benefit amount that applies to each type of childcare. For example, for children under 19 months, the maximum monthly amount received based on the type of childcare provided is:
- Group child care (licensed): $1,250
- Family child care (licensed): $1,000
- Registered but unlicensed care: $600
- Unregistered and unlicensed care: $438
- In child’s home care: up to $394
Note that the benefit amount provided is reduced as the child grows older. You may qualify for the maximum amount if your income is $45,000 or less, and the partial amount if your family income is between $45,000 and $111,000.
However, you can use the online estimator to determine how much benefit you can get quickly. The online estimator will ask you to provide your personal and family details, such as your:
- Marital status
- Total number of Children
- Total number of children that have special needs
- Family gross annual income
Note: The online estimator does not provide the actual amount you can receive. It only estimates based on your circumstances. So you may earn more or less than what is estimated.
> Check out the maximum amounts for the different types of BC childcare arrangements
BC Affordable Child Care Benefit Application
Before you apply, ensure that you have the following handy:
1. Choose your childcare provider: You should choose a care provider to provide the necessary care based on your child’s needs. As a result, you and the care provider must fill out and sign the Child Care Arrangement Form (CF2798). You will be asked to attach this form with your application.
2. Gather all personal information and identification for everyone on your application: The personal information you will be required to provide includes your name and your spouse’s name, date of birth, gender, and number of children. Furthermore, you will be required to upload any of the following government-issued identification for all your family members
- Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- BC Services Card
- Driver’s license
Also, you will be required to provide a copy of any document, letter or certificate from the Canadian government if you’re a Convention refugee.
3. Gather your spouse’s contact information: You and your spouse will be required to complete part of the application if your family has two parents. As a result, you will be asked to provide your spouse’s functional email address.
Upon submitting your part of the application, a code will be emailed to your spouse, which they can use to access the My Family Services site using BCeID.
Your spouse will be required to provide their personal information and allow the CRA to confirm their income directly.
4. Arrange all your supporting information and documents: You should arrange your information and documents to justify your condition. Scan your documents and ensure they display all the essential information.
5. Have a compatible web browser: Finally, you need to have a compatible web browser ahead of your application. This means having Windows, Android, or iOS device to access:
- Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
- Google Chrome
Apply Online
Once you meet the above requirements, you’re ready to apply for the BC Affordable Child Care Benefit.
You can use the same login on My Family Services if you’ve already accessed other B.C. government services. Otherwise, you need to register for a Basic BCeID.
Also, you can take up to 60 business days to complete the application. The application will be processed in approximately 20 working days.
After applying, you can view the status of your application on your dashboard.
> Click here to register for a Basic BCeID in a few minutes.
Apply by Mail
If you don’t want to register the benefit through My Family Services, you can do so through Mail or Fax.
However, registering through Mail or Fax may take up to three weeks or more if you didn’t provide all the supporting documents.
> Click here to download the application form and supporting documents.
Here’s the Mail address: Child Care Service Centre, PO Box 9953 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC V8W 9R3.
Apply by Fax
To send your application through Fax, you need to send a cover page to this number: 1877-544-0699.
Final Thoughts on BC Affordable Childcare Benefit
BC Affordable Childcare Benefit is fundamental to offsetting the cost of childcare services in British Columbia.
Whether you’re in a low or moderate-income bracket, this benefit will help you reduce costs and maximize your savings or investment.
Ensure you apply for the benefit before the end of the month you want to receive it. For example, if you want to start receiving the benefit by October 30, you must apply by October 1.
Fortunately, the application process is stress-free; you can complete it online within a few minutes.
However, if you’re looking for another means of reducing the cost of your child’s upbringing, I recommend opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
Finally, don’t hesitate to contact me in the comment section for more clarification on the Affordable Childcare Benefit and other related benefits in Canada.
