1.2.7 Additional child care subsidy (ACCS) - description
Objectives of ACCS
ACCS aims to:
- assist families and children facing barriers in accessing affordable child care, and
- provide additional fee assistance to families and children who are genuinely disadvantaged including:
- children at risk of serious abuse or neglect - ACCS (child wellbeing)
- grandparents on income support (1.1.I.50) who are the principal carer of their grandchildren - ACCS (grandparent)
- families experiencing temporary financial hardship - ACCS (temporary financial hardship)
- low income families transitioning to work from income support - ACCS (transition to work)
ACCS eligibility
Eligibility for ACCS is determined in relation to each session of care (1.1.S.40) delivered by an approved child care service (1.1.A.90). An individual (1.1.I.90) is eligible for ACCS for a session of care provided by an approved child care service to a child if, at the time the session is provided:
- the individual meets the eligibility criteria for CCS, and
- the individual meets the eligibility for either:
- ACCS (child wellbeing),
- ACCS (grandparent),
- ACCS (temporary financial hardship), or
- ACCS (transition to work).
An approved provider (1.1.A.90) is eligible for ACCS (child wellbeing) if they meet the eligibility criteria.
ACCS entitlement
The amount of ACCS an individual is entitled (1.1.E.30) to is dependent upon:
- the individual's eligibility for CCS for a child, and
- the individual's eligibility for either:
- ACCS (child wellbeing),
- ACCS (grandparent),
- ACCS (temporary financial hardship), or
- ACCS (transition to work).
An approved provider is entitled to ACCS (child wellbeing) for a child if they meet the eligibility criteria.
How ACCS is paid
ACCS is paid to approved providers to pass on as a fee reduction to individuals. ACCS is not subject to withholding or reconciliation (1.1.R.10).
Act reference: FAAct Schedule 2 Amounts of CCS and ACCS, section 85BA Eligibility for CCS, section 85CA Eligibility for ACCS (child wellbeing), section 85CG Eligibility for ACCS (temporary financial hardship), section 85CJ Eligibility for ACCS (grandparent), section 85CK Eligibility for ACCS (transition to work)
FA(Admin)Act section 67EB Payments to providers of individuals' entitlements to CCS or ACCS by fee reduction, section 67EC Payment directly to individuals of entitlements to CCS or ACCS
CCSMinRules Part 2 Division 1 Eligibility for CCS and ACCS, Part 2 Division 2 When children are at risk of serious abuse or neglect for ACCS (child wellbeing), section 12 Circumstances in which an individual is taken to be experiencing temporary financial hardship, Part 2 Division 4 Transition to work, Part 3 Division 1 Amount of CCS and ACCS
Policy reference: FA Guide 2.1.2 Australian residence & portability, 2.1.3 Immunisation & health check requirements, 2.6.1 CCS eligibility, 2.6.2.10 CCS - eligibility for children aged 13 & under & attending secondary school or aged 14 or above, 2.6.2.20 CCS - Australian residency exceptions, 2.6.2.30 CCS - immunisation approved exemptions, 2.6.3 CCS eligibility - attending secondary school, 2.6.5 CCS - requirements relating to CWA, 2.8 ACCS overview, 3.5 CCS entitlement, 3.5.1 CCS - combined annual ATI, 3.5.2 CCS - activity test, 3.5.3 CCS - hourly rate caps, 3.5.4 Calculating CCS entitlement, 4.6.1.30 CCS - initial payments, 6.4.1 Overview of reconciliation