To reflect a significant increase in the number of grandparents taking primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren, the Australian Government is offering the Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparents) which, as of July 2018, replaced the Grandparent Child Care Benefit (GCCB).
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (Grandparents) provides up to 100 hours of subsidised care, per fortnight, for grandparents who:
- receive income support
- are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy
- are the principal carer of their grandchild with 65 per cent or greater carer responsibilities
- have a substantial say in the day-to-day decisions about their grandchild's care, welfare and development
Grandparents who care for their grandchild for 65 per cent of the time or more, but don’t receive an income support, won't be eligible for the ACCS (Grandparent), however, may be eligible to receive the Child Care Subsidy, with an activity test exemption.
Eligible families will receive a subsidy equal to the actual fee charged, up to 120 per cent of the Child Care Subsidy hourly rate cap, for up to 100 hours per fortnight and will not have to meet Activity Test requirements.
Services Australia definition of a grandparent or great-grandparent includes a relationship to a child through:
- Adoption
- Step parents, including former step parents
- Artificial conception
- De facto relationships and
- Surrogacy arrangements
How to apply:
Grandparents who wish to submit a claim for Child Care Subsidy with Services Austraila will be asked some extra questions to determine their eligibility for ACCS Grandparent.
Visit Services Australia for more information about the Additional Child Care Subsidy - Grandparents.
