Flexible childcare assistance
There is no household income or family asset limit for 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.
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, preschool, home-based network, or kohanga reo.
To claim, you need to be:
- the principal caregiver of the child
- a NZ citizen or permanent resident
- likely to need a benefit for a long-term if you don’t get this benefit to allow you back into work or for work-related training or study.
You may not be able to get this payment if the child’s other parent or caregiver can take care of them.
Subsidy amount from 1 April 2024
| Number of children | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $64.02 |
| 2 | $96.03 |
| 3 | $128.04 |
| 4 | $160.05 |
| 5 | $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 is enrolled at a licensed ECE service or home-based network
20 Hours ECE – children 3 years and older
FamilyBoost – tax rebate for low- and middle-income families
2 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/