Child Care Subsidy Program

Families earning under $90,000 in annual gross income with children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 enrolled in a licensed program outside of regular school hours are eligible for subsidy.

Review the eligibility requirements for more information on how to qualify for subsidy and how to calculate your total family income.

The table below shows possible subsidy rates. Children must attend the minimum number of hours to receive the maximum subsidy rate listed under the family’s income bracket.

Table 1. Maximum subsidy rates for children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 enrolled in a licensed childcare program outside of regular school hours

The extended hours subsidy supports families who need childcare outside regular hours (6 am to 6 pm) or on weekends. In addition to the subsidy, families can receive an extra $100 per month per child.

• Extended hours subsidy is available for children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 who are enrolled in a licensed program outside of regular school hours and approved for the Child Care Subsidy Program.
• The licensed program must be approved to offer extended hours of care.
• The child must need 4 or more extended hours of care in a month for the family to receive the additional $100.

To help parents with the cost of full-day childcare for children in grades 1 to 6 during summer months, subsidy rates increase in July and August.

What this means for parents and caregivers:

• If you are currently receiving subsidy and will be increasing your childcare hours throughout the summer months, you will be eligible for a subsidy increase.
• The summer school-age subsidy rate change will occur automatically and will return to the regular rate in September.
• The table below shows the summer subsidy rates you can expect.

Table 2. Summer school-age subsidy rates based on income

For example, a child in grade 2 attending a childcare program received a maximum school-age subsidy rate of $366 in June. The subsidy rate for this child will increase to $644 for July and August to support increased attendance. The subsidy rate will return to $366 in September.

If you have questions or need more information about the subsidy summer rates, contact the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.

You can apply for subsidy if:

• you, or your spouse or partner, or the child receiving care are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, temporary residents with a valid work permit, refugee claimants or protected person claimants (individuals unable to return to their countries of origin because they fear persecution)
• you or your spouse or partner are an Alberta resident
• you and your spouse or partner:
  • are working or looking for work
  • are attending school
  • have special needs
  • have a child with special needs
• your children are 12 years old or younger and attending full-time kindergarten (5 days per week) or grades 1 to 6
• your children have a secured spot in a licensed facility-based childcare program, or a family day home program that is overseen by a licensed agency

The amount of subsidy you receive will depend on the grade your child is attending, type of childcare program and your household income. You are eligible if:

• Your total family income is less than $90,000 per year for children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6 enrolled in a licensed childcare program outside of regular school hours.

Income eligibility is determined by the combined amount of income earned by you and your spouse or partner's income from your most recent Notice of Assessment, issued by CRA:

• Income is based on Line 15000 (gross income) of your tax return less amounts reported on Line 32000 (education related tax deductions), and Lines 33099 and 33199 (medical related tax deductions).

In the event of a recent loss of income, or if you and your spouse or partner were not required to file a Canadian tax return, you can contact us to request an evaluation of income and education estimates.

Apply using an Alberta.ca Account

During the application process, you will need to create or log in to an Alberta.ca Account.

Your Alberta.ca Account is your single, verified online identity for interacting with digital Government of Alberta programs and services. It is free to create and gives you secure access to apply for subsidy and track the status of your application.

An Alberta.ca Account allows you to start an application for subsidy, pause and save your progress, then come back to it later. If you are in the middle of an application or need to submit documents, simply log back in to continue and upload your documents.

Create an Alberta.ca Account

Steps to complete

1. Read the eligibility requirements and make sure you understand what happens after you apply.
2. Complete the Child Care Subsidy application online using your Alberta.ca Account credentials to sign in.
3. Complete the Declaration and Canada Revenue Agency Consent form if you have not completed it in the past.
4. Provide additional information or documents as requested during the assessment process.

Apply for subsidy online

We encourage all applicants to apply online because a paper application can take much longer to process. However, subsidy applicants can still apply using the paper form.

To apply using the paper form, download and fill out the Application for Child Care Subsidy form.

If you need childcare because of a special need (yours or your child’s), you must submit a completed Verification for Need for Child Care – Special Needs.

If you need help using the Child Care Subsidy online application or if you have questions related to your subsidy or application status, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.

This service is available in more than 100 languages.

You can also email the Child Care Subsidy Program at [email protected].

If you experience technical issues or have any feedback on the application, email [email protected].

If approved for a subsidy, you will receive a letter indicating the subsidy start and end date and the amount your childcare program will receive on your behalf.

Approvals may take a few weeks. As long as you submit your application in the month you want subsidy to start, your savings will be retroactive to that month, no matter when you actually receive your approval letter.

If you did not submit all of your supporting documentation when you applied, you will be given a 2-month conditional approval period to submit it.

Once all necessary documents are received and approved, the subsidy may be granted for a maximum period of 12 months.

You will be responsible for returning any funds paid if all documentation is not submitted within the specified time period.

If your application is not approved, you will receive a letter. You can request a review of a subsidy decision by submitting a Request for a Review of a Subsidy Decision form within 30 days from the date of the decision.

To continue receiving your subsidy, you must renew it before it expires. We will send you a notice to advise you of your subsidy end date and instructions for renewal.

You can renew your subsidy online by logging into your Alberta.ca account.

The renewal process can be done as early as the first day of the month your subsidy expires and no later than the end of the following month. For example, if your subsidy ends on August 31, you can start the renewal process as early as August 1 and no later than September 30.

Contact the Alberta Supports Contact Centre if you have questions about the subsidy renewal process. Renewals must be completed online or by submitting a paper application.

You must report all of the changes listed below to the Child Care Subsidy Program the same month in which the change occurred. These changes can affect your subsidy amount.

Failing to report the change within the requested timeframe could mean your childcare provider is overpaid on your behalf. If that happens, you will be required to repay it.

You can report changes online or download and complete a Change of Information form and submit it with your supporting documentation.

Report the following changes:

• change in address, email address and phone number;
• change in reason for requiring care (for example, parental leave, laid off, summer break);
• all changes in relationship status (for example, live-in partner, common law partner, marital status);
• changes in annual income that may impact your subsidy benefits;
• change in eligible deductions;
• applicant or co-applicant no longer resides in Alberta;
• change in the number of children requiring care;
• change in the childcare program/service;
• change in hours of childcare required;
• child stops attending childcare for more than one month;
• change in the child’s grade (only applicable when entering grade 1 or grade 7).

This benefit provides tax-free payments to lower- and middle-income families with children under 18. Payments are issued quarterly and are based on family income and number of children. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit.

This program offers free health coverage for children in low-income families, including dental care, prescription drugs, eye care and more. Learn more about what is covered, eligibility and how to apply to the Alberta Child Health Benefit.