Need help reducing your child care costs?

Families who live in Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls can apply for Child Care fee subsidy. Fee subsidy helps with the cost of licensed child care for children under 13 years old.

What you can use child care fee subsidy for

Fee subsidy is in place to make licensed home and centre based child care more affordable.

It can fund:

  • Full or half day care for children that are not in school yet
  • Before and after care for school aged children
  • Full day care for summer and PA days for school aged children

Basic eligibility

You need to say yes to all 3 of these statements

  • I live in Lanark County or the Town of Smiths Falls
  • I have a financial need and need access to affordable child care
  • I have a confirmed spot for my child(ren) at a licensed child care in Lanark County.

You need to say yes to at least 1 of these statements:

  • All adults in my house are working or attending school
  • A child or adult in my house has been identified by a professional as having a special need

Proving financial need

You must file an income tax return for last year in order for us to be able to calculate your parental portion of child care fees.

Fee subsidy calculator

This will give you an estimate of the parental portion not covered by fee subsidy. Your fee subsidy caseworker calculates your exact portion based on your full application.

Enter your household income into the calculator using line 236 from your last years Notice or Assessment.

 

Important: This calculator is for reference purposes only. The exact parental contribution will be determined at your application or reapplication appointment.

Enter line 236 from the Income Tax Notice of Assessment for yourself and your spouse.
Based on the information you have provided, your monthly parental contribution towards the cost of a licensed child care will be:

If your financial situation has changed since the previous tax year, you may qualify for a fee reduction. You must provide verification that your adjusted gross income for this calendar year will be at least 20 per cent less than the most recent tax year.

Applying for fee subsidy

Step 1: Find a child care space for your child. This space must be through a licensed provider listed in our Licensed Child Care Providers section.

Step 2: Gather your documentation.

  1. Proof of income
    • Notice of Assessment from the most current year
    • If self employed
      • T1 General (Income Tax and Benefit Return)
      • Your business registration
  2. Proof of residency
  3. Current work or school schedule
  4. Letter from employer or school to verify employment or enrollment
  5. Custody agreements

Step 3: Contact our office to speak to a fee subsidy caseworker and receive an application.

Step 4: Complete the application and submit it with supporting documents.

Step 5: Your caseworker will review your application and let you know the outcome.

What to expect if approved for fee subsidy

Your caseworker will send you and your child care provider an approval letter that states:

  1. Subsidy amount
  2. Eligible hours
  3. Effective date

Your caseworker will be in contact as needed to keep your file up to date.

How to continue receiving your fee subsidy

To keep receiving subsidy you must:

  • Pay your monthly parental contribution directly to the child care provider.
  • Provide updated documentation for your annual file review or as requested throughout the year.
  • Report any changes in your personal and financial situation to your caseworker. Make sure to report changes in:
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • E-mail address
    • Marital status
    • Need/reason for child care
    • Birth of new children/parental leave
    • Employment
    • Income
    • Child custody and access
    • Ontario Works (OW)/Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) status

Reporting changes quickly will help to avoid an overpayment that you would have to pay back to Lanark County. If you don't report changes you also risk your file being closed.

Waitlist

Current Status: No Waitlist

Status Definitions

No Waitlist: If approved you can start receiving fee subsidy assistance right away.

Waitlist: Eligible families receive fee subsidy as funding becomes available based on their application date.

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