Flexible childcare assistance
This is available to parents who are in employment or engaged in employment-related study or training. It can help with the costs of informal childcare e.g. a babysitter. And the good news is that there is no household income or family asset limit for flexible childcare assistance.
You may be able to get Flexible Childcare Assistance if you:
- are the principal caregiver of a dependent child or young person
- have informal childcare costs because you’re unable to access formal childcare for the hours that you need
- are in or starting an employment-related activity and need childcare because of this
- likely to need a benefit for a long time if you don’t get this assistance, and
- are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (you may be able to get this payment if you have a temporary entry class visa that allows you to work in New Zealand).
If you get Flexible Childcare Assistance, you can still apply the Childcare subsidy to help with childcare/ECE fees during the times you’re able to access a licensed ECE service such as a kindergarten, community-based preschool, home-based network, or kohanga reo.
You may not be able to get this payment if the child’s other parent or caregiver can take care of them.
Flexible childcare subsidy rate amounts (as at 1 April 2024 – the government hasn’t increased in this in 2025)
| Number of children | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 child | $64.02 |
| 2 children | $96.03 |
| 3 children | $128.04 |
| 4 children | $160.05 |
| 5 children | $192.06 |
- $64.02 for one child
- $32.01 for each additional child
- $192.06 a week maximum (5 or more children).
You can get the payment for up to 52 weeks.
How to apply for Flexible Childcare Assistance
Call WINZ on 0800 559 009 to book an appointment. It may be possible to have an appointment over the phone but mostly WINZ do want to meet you face-to-face if possible. The information WINZ will need is listed its our pdf form.
Flexible Childcare Assistance application form.pdf
Documents you will be asked to provide include:
- employment details e.g. name of the company, your position, and start date
- employment-related training details, or
- employment-related education details.
You may also be asked to verify your identity – that you are who you say you are.
Check out if you are entitled to any of these other subsidies or tax rebates
Childcare subsidy if your child goes to a licensed ECE service
20 Hours ECE – children 3 years and older
FamilyBoost – tax rebate for low- and middle-income families
4 Responses
Wanted too look after my granddaughter full time and one friend’s child can I get the ece payments like the child care provider does as I would have stop working to do this and if yes how do I apply both 4 years old
to get funding for caring for children like a childcare provider you would need to apply to the ministry of education for a licence as a home-based provider of care https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/running-a-service/starting-a-service/starting-a-home-based-ece-service/applying-for-a-licence/
Hi..O have a medical certificate from my doctor explaining my medical situation..How much after school care subsidy am I entitled to for 3to6pm every week day after school please..
And how much subsidy am I entitled to fur the two week school holiday programmes for 8.30 am to 3pm please..
sorry Valerie we can’t help you directly on this. You’ll need to contact Work & Income and ask for what you are personally entitled to for the OSCAR – after school care subsidy.
Here’s a link to the current OSCAR subsidy amounts https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/deskfile/extra-help-information/childcare-assistance-tables/oscar-subsidy-current.html