Displaced Ukraine Nationals in need of child care subsidy can apply here.
Overview
Eligible families can apply for child care subsidies if they have children age 0 to Grade 6 enrolled in a:
- licensed facility-based program (daycare, out-of-school care and preschool)
- family day home program overseen by a licensed family day home agency
- group family child care centre
Subsidy rates vary based on the child’s age, family income, the child care program and the number of hours a child attends each month. Types of subsidy include:
- subsidy for children 0 to kindergarten-age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours)
- subsidy for children in kindergarten to grade 6 enrolled in a licensed program outside of regular school hours
- preschool subsidy for children enrolled in a licensed preschool program
- extended hours subsidy for children who require care outside regular hours
Important changes
Affordability supports
Effective January 2022, child care in Alberta will be more affordable under the new federal-provincial child care agreement. Fees will be lowered in 2 ways – expanded subsidy and affordability grants.
Subsidy for children from 0 to kindergarten-age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours) has been expanded to include families with a gross household income of up to $180,000.
Subsidy for children in kindergarten to Grade 6 enrolled in a licensed program outside of regular school hours remains available to families with a household income of up to $90,000.
Affordability grants will also be provided directly to child care operators so they can further lower fees for all families. Parents do not need to apply to benefit from the grant fee reduction.
Subsidy types and rates
A child's subsidy rate is determined by total family income, type of child care program, and the number of hours the child attends in a month. Use Line 15000 from the most recent CRA Notice of Assessment to determine gross household income.
Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. For help opening the forms, contact PDF form technical support.
How to apply
Review your eligibility and apply online for the fastest processing times using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone through the Child Care Subsidy Application.
During your application, you will need to submit the Declaration and Canada Revenue Agency Consent form. If you have completed this form in the past, it is not necessary to fill it out again.
Each subsidy starts at the beginning of the month your completed application is received. You can apply as early as the month before your child is starting child care. For example, if your child's start date is September 1, you can apply as early as August 1.
After you apply
After meeting the initial requirements and submitting an online application, you will receive an estimated Child Care Subsidy amount. This estimate, based on the details you provided in your application, is preliminary and may be adjusted after a comprehensive review.
Subsidy approvals are only issued following a thorough assessment of your application. In certain situations, additional documentation may be necessary to finalize your approval. If this is the case, you will receive a conditional approval letter specifying the additional documents or actions needed to complete the process.
Estimate your subsidy
Use the online subsidy estimator to calculate an approximate amount of subsidy your family could receive.
The estimator calculates potential subsidy for families who require full-time child care (100+ hours per month for 0 to Kindergarten-age and 50+ hours for school age). Preschool subsidy is a flat rate not based on 100 hours.
Note: the information you provide in the estimator is not shared or saved.
Find child care
Learn what to look for when finding and choosing child care.
Use the Child Care Lookup tool to find a licensed child care program.
Contact
Connect with the Alberta Supports Contact Centre for general inquiries about child care subsidies:
Hours: 7:30 am to 8 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-644-9992 (in Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-877-644-9992
Send your completed forms, supporting documents and any inquiries to the provincial subsidy office:
Fax: 780-422-5692
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Child Care Subsidy
PO Box 1641, Station M
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N9
If you have questions about finding or choosing child care and other options, call Child Care Connect toll free at 1-844-644-5165.
This service is available in more than 100 languages.