How BC funding can lower child care fees

General guide. This is a plain-English overview, not eligibility or financial advice. The Province of BC decides who qualifies and how much, and its pages linked below are the authority.

Two different kinds of help

BC has two programs that can lower what families pay for licensed child care, and they work differently.

• The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) lowers the fee at licensed centres that take part. Families do not apply for it: the centre applies the reduction to the monthly fee.
• The Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is a monthly benefit that families apply for. Whether you qualify, and how much you get, depends on things like your family’s income and size and the type of care.

The fee reduction (CCFRI)

If a centre takes part, the reduction comes off the fee you are charged, so there is nothing for you to fill in. When you compare centres, ask what the monthly fee would be for your child and how the reduction applies to it. The Province publishes which providers take part (opens in a new tab).

The benefit (ACCB)

You apply to the Province, and the Province decides your eligibility and amount. Its estimator (opens in a new tab) gives a first idea of what your family might receive, and the ACCB page (opens in a new tab) explains how to apply. It helps to start early, because a benefit can take time to be approved.

Questions to ask a centre

• What would the monthly fee be for my child’s age and schedule?
• How does the fee reduction show on my bill?
• If I receive the benefit, how is it paid towards my fee?

At Autumn

Autumn accepts both the ACCB and the CCFRI. Fees vary with each child’s needs, age and schedule, so we don’t list a monthly fee. Book a tour and Kamal will go through the fee for your child, or ask and Kamal will get in touch.

More on the fees and subsidies page, and all of BC’s programs on ChildCareBC (opens in a new tab).

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