If your child is starting at child care soon, now is the time to get some administrative affairs in order. You’ll need to enrol in a quality child care service, settling on a start date and ongoing days, ensure your child is up-to-date with their vaccinations, and also consider fees.
The government helps many families with the cost of child care, but before you receive any assistance, you must establish whether you're eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, and if so, make a claim.
A Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) is needed to enrol in a child care service and receive the Child Care Subsidy, so let’s look at what a CRN entails.
What is a CRN and when is it required?
Made up of nine numbers and one letter (e.g. 123 456 789X), a CRN is an alphanumeric string generated by Centrelink and used to identify your personal record.
It's required whenever you deal with Centrelink, and you’ll need to have your CRN on hand when:
- Enrolling your child in an approved child care service
- Linking your Centrelink online account to your myGov account
- Applying for payments and services
- Recording or updating your information
How do you get a CRN?
Centrelink gives you a CRN when you prove your identity with them, and you’ll already have a CRN if you've done this in the past, received a Centrelink payment or used a Centrelink service.
You can find your CRN on any correspondence that Centrelink has sent through or on your concession card (if you have one).
If you're having trouble locating your CRN, aren’t sure if you’ve got one or definitely need one, follow the steps to get a CRN via myGov.
Centrelink will find your existing CRN in its records, or give you one, and you’re then ready to claim a Centrelink payment online,
If you can’t get a CRN via myGov, you can call the Centrelink Families Line on 136 150 (weekdays, 8am to 8pm), prove your identity over the phone and get a CRN that way.
Before you can submit a claim for payment, you'll need to visit a Centrelink service centre in person and give them an ‘acceptable photo identity document,’ plus any other documents they ask for.
Does your child need their own CRN?
Yes. When you enrol your child at an approved child care service, you need to provide the service with your CRN and birthdate, along with your child's CRN and birthdate.
Keep in mind too, that each child needs their own CRN, so if you have two children going to care, they need two individual CRNs.
How do you get a CRN for your child?
Your child will already have a CRN if you've claimed a payment or service for them previously (e.g. Parental Leave Pay or Family Tax Benefit).
You can check your child's CRN by logging into your Centrelink online account via myGov, or clicking on 'My Family' in the Express Plus Centrelink app. If you have a concession card, your child’s CRN will be on that, and if you can’t find their CRN, call the Centrelink Families Line,
If your child hasn't been assigned a CRN yet, then you’ll get one when you claim and are approved for the Child Care Subsidy.
When enrolling your child in care, ask your service whether you can provide their CRN once your claim is in and approval given. If not, the government says, ‘You’ll need to wait to get your child’s CRN before you can finalise enrolment.’
What is a CAN?
CAN stands for 'Customer Access Number'. Centrelink doesn’t issue CANs anymore, but if you already have one, it can be used to recognise your personal record and is usually the same number as your CRN.
If you have different CRN and CAN numbers (this can happen if you claim online), the government advises you to:
- Use the CRN when speaking with staff at a Centrelink service centre, and
- Use the CAN when linking your Centrelink online account to myGov, calling a payment line and using self-service
In summary, both you and your child need a CRN before entering the exciting world of subsidised child care.
This number can unlock more affordable fees, and if you haven’t found a quality child care service yet or applied for the Child Care Subsidy, now is the time to do so!
Further reading and references
Your end of year checklist
Details you need to give your child care service
