Before applying for Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) child wellbeing on behalf of a family, you must take steps to establish their eligibility. You must also ensure the child is enrolled correctly so the subsidy can be paid.
On this page:
Families must be eligible for Child Care Subsidy
Families can only get ACCS child wellbeing once they’ve:
- lodged a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) claim, and
- been assessed as CCS-eligible.
A key requirement of CCS eligibility is that children meet immunisation requirements.
If a child does not meet the CCS immunisation requirements, their CCS claim will not be approved. The family will need to make a new claim once the child has met the immunisation requirements.
Services Australia cannot pay the child wellbeing subsidy until after this has occurred.
Families can lodge a CCS claim via their Centrelink online account.
It is critical that you discuss this requirement with the family if they haven’t already lodged a CCS claim. Services Australia can normally only backdate payments up to 28 days before the family lodged their successful claim. Families may miss out on payments if they delay. If you cannot identify a CCS-eligible parent or carer for a child in need of wellbeing support, you – the provider – may be able to get the subsidy on behalf of the child. We have more information on this scenario below.
Children must be considered in need of wellbeing support
Our identifying a child in need of wellbeing support page outlines when ACCS child wellbeing should be applied.
You must enrol the child correctly
Families may miss out on payments if their child is not enrolled correctly.
There are 2 types of enrolments that you can use to receive ACCS child wellbeing, depending on the circumstances.
- Complying Written Arrangement (CWA)
- Provider Eligible Arrangement (PEA).
Complying Written Arrangement
In most cases, you must enrol the child under a CWA.
A CWA enables Services Australia to make CCS and ACCS payments.
Learn how to enrol a child under a CWA.
Provider Eligible Arrangement
In very limited circumstances, you may be able to enrol the child under a PEA.
A PEA enables Services Australia to pay the subsidy directly to you – the provider – when there is no CCS-eligible parent or carer. For example, when a child has just entered foster care or their parent or guardian does not meet the residency requirements for CCS.
When you can use a PEA
Parent or carer is not eligible for CCS
You can use a PEA where there is no CCS-eligible individual, for example, due to residency status.
Before using this type of PEA, you must:
- ask the family to get a CRN for a PEA enrolment from Services Australia
- collect evidence the child is not eligible for CCS, such as a rejected CCS claim or visa details
- keep a record of your observations or other evidence that the child needs wellbeing support
You must request approval before lodging this type of PEA.
Email childwellbeing@education.gov.au with your service ID and name, child CRN and name, and an authorised contact at the service.
Child is in formal foster or kinship care
You can use a PEA for up to 13 weeks when a child is in formal foster or kinship care. This allows the child to access CCS while their carer is assessed for CCS eligibility.
The 13-week period cannot be extended, even if the child’s carer changes during that time.
If the child’s carer changes within the 13 weeks, the new carer may use the remaining time. Once the full 13 weeks have been used, you must transition the child to a CWA enrolment.
Before using this type of PEA, confirm that:
- the carer has lodged a CCS claim
- the carer has a CRN for themselves and the child
- the placement is long enough to establish CCS eligibility.
If the placement is short-term, or the child is in residential care, you must not use a PEA. Instead, establish an appropriate arrangement with the referring organisation, such as an organisation enrolment or relevant arrangement enrolment.
Note: Using the wrong enrolment type can delay or stop payments.
Children enrolled under a PEA must still meet CCS immunisation requirements. If a child does not meet the immunisation requirements, or their immunisation status is unknown, complete the relevant form and email it to childwellbeing@education.gov.au. We may approve the child to receive CCS under a PEA if not doing so would place the child’s wellbeing at risk.
When you can’t use a PEA
You must not use a PEA if:
- the child attends In Home Care, as In Home Care is only available to CCS-eligible families
- the child has no formal guardian and is in emergency care under a state or territory arrangement. In this situation, you should discuss the responsibility for child care costs with the state or territory agency
- the child is in residential care, a group home, or 24/7 Family Day Care. These children should be enrolled under an arrangement with an organisation.
Privacy
When you collect personal information from families, you must make sure that they:
- know that you are collecting their personal information
- understand that you will share this information with us
- consent to you sharing this information with us.
Sometimes, we need to share this information with other government departments, like Services Australia. We are authorised to collect and disclose this information under FAL.
You must consider privacy obligations when handling evidence and personal information.