Rates and understanding payments

Last updated on September 3, 2024

Affordable Child Care Benefit rates

Affordable Child Care Benefit rates are based on the class of child care provided.

Learn more about the different types of child care in B.C.

The maximum funding amounts, listed below, start on the first day of the month. They are based on the age of the child.

School age means the child will have reached age 5 on or before December 31 of that school year.

If your child is school age but is not enrolled in school you may be eligible for full day rates for the type of care. Include this information in your application or contact the Child Care Service Centre.

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Licensed child care

Licensed child care providers are monitored and regularly inspected by regional health authorities and meet specific requirements.
Class of child care	Age of child	Care code	Maximum benefit per month
Group Child Care, Multi-Age Child Care, or School Age Care on School Grounds	child under 19 months	G1	$1,250
	child 19 months or over but under 37 months	G2	$1,060
	child 37 months or over but who has not reached school age	G3	$550
	child of school age	G4	$415
Family Child Care or In-Home Multi-Age Child Care	child under 19 months	J1	$1,000
	child 19 months or over but under 37 months	J2	$1,000
	child 37 months or over but who has not reached school age	J3	$550
	child of school age	J4	$415
Licensed preschool program	child 29 months or over but who has not reached school age or who has reached school age but who is not enrolled in school	N1	$225
Care surrounding a school day (children enrolled in school)	child of school age	L2	$210

Registered licence-not-required child care

These are unlicensed care providers. They must have registered with a Child Care Resource and Referral Centre.
Class of child care	Age of child	Care code	Maximum benefit per month
Care surrounding a school day (children enrolled in school)	child of school age	L2	$210
Child care, other than care surrounding a school day	child under 19 months	R1	$600
	child 19 months or over but under 37 months	R2	$600
	child 37 months or over but who has not reached school age	R3	$550
	child of school age	R4	$415

Licence-not-required child care

These child care providers can operate legally in B.C. They are not registered, licensed, monitored or inspected. And they do not have to meet health and safety standards.
Class of child care	Age of child	Care code	Maximum benefit per month
Care surrounding a school day (children enrolled in school)	child of school age	L2	$210
Child care, other than care surrounding a school day	child under 19 months	F1	$438
	child 19 months or over but under 37 months	F2	$404
	child 37 months or over	F3	$354

Child care in the child's home

This is unlicensed care, arranged at the child’s home. For example, a nanny or a baby-sitter. Kids from other families can’t be included in this care. The care provider can’t be a relative who lives in the home.
Class of child care	Age of child	Care code	Maximum benefit per month
Care surrounding a school day (children enrolled in school)	1st child of school age unless another child in the family unit, who has not reached school age, is in care code H1 or H2	L2	$210
	1st child of school age if another child in the family unit, who has not reached school age, is in care code H1 or H2	H4	$147
	2nd child, unless the child is under 19 months	H4	$147
	each child in addition to the 1st or 2nd child, as applicable	H4	$147
Child care, other than care surrounding a school day	1st child under 19 months	H1	$394
	1st child 19 months or over	H2	$318
	2nd child under 19 months	H3	$198
	2nd child, unless the child is under 19 months	H4	$147
	each child in addition to the 1st or 2nd child, as applicable	H4	$147

Affordable Child Care Benefit payments

Once your application is approved, both the parent or guardian and the child care provider will receive a benefit plan. The plan includes the benefit amount with the start and end dates.

In most cases, the child care provider receives the payment after they submit a monthly claim form. If child care is provided in the child's home, parents or guardians submit the claim form and pay the child care provider. The benefit is paid by cheque or direct deposit.

Parents or guardians pay the balance of the child care provider's fee after the benefit amount is deducted.

Absences and vacations

The Affordable Child Care Benefit is only paid for child care provided.

If the child is absent due to vacation, the parent or guardian receives the benefit for up to two weeks in one month. This cannot exceed more than four weeks in one calendar year.

If the child is absent due to child or parent illness, the parent or guardian receives the benefit for up to two weeks in one month.

Accurate attendance records are necessary and subject to audit.

Withdrawals

If a child attends some days during a month, but withdraws before the end of the month and their space is not filled:

You may be eligible to receive:
- The full authorized monthly benefit amount if the child attended for half of the month or more
- Half of the authorized monthly benefit amount if the child attended less than half of the month

*Note: This rule is different for the Young Parent Program.

Benefit adjustments for care surrounding a school day

Rates for care surrounding a school day apply for all days school is in session, in line with the School Calendar Regulation. This also includes the following statutory holidays:

Family Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Victoria Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day

Days in session are based on the school calendar year. It includes the days that principals, vice principals, directors of instruction and teachers are available for instruction, non-instruction or administrative activities. For these days, increases can be requested from half days of care to full days of care at the care surrounding school day rate. This also applies to other days during the school year, such as child illness, professional development and unplanned school closures.

For winter, spring and summer breaks, and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

The care surrounding school day rate can be increased to the applicable children of school age rate

Use the forms below to request adjustments. Families and providers may submit forms after the 25th of the month being claimed.

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