Child Care Subsidy

Nova Scotia’s Child Care Subsidy helps eligible families pay for childcare at licensed child care facilities or family home day cares regulated by a family home day care agency. The Department of Community Services provides subsidies to the child care facility or family home day care agency on your behalf. The subsidy is attached to your child. If you decide to change child care centres or family home day cares, the subsidy goes with you.

Eligibility

Subsidies are available if your child is 12 years or under and applying for child care at a licensed facility or family home day care that offers full-day care. Eligibility is also based on your family’s social need, residency status, liquid assets, and financial criteria. You must be eligible in all areas to qualify.

Eligibility for child care subsidy must be re-established every 12 months or more often if determined by your caseworker. If you are receiving a subsidy, you are required to notify your caseworker of any changes in your financial circumstances within seven days of the change. If you fail to notify your caseworker, you may lose your subsidy and/or have to repay the subsidy you've already received.

How to Apply

You can apply for child care subsidy using one of the following methods:

1. contact a Child Care Subsidy caseworker at your local Community Services office
2. download and print an application form (see Forms, below) and mail it to the Department of Community Services
3. pick up an application form at a child care centre, family home day care agency, or your local Community Services office

Applications are reviewed by a Child Care Subsidy caseworker. You'll have to provide proof of your income (i.e. income tax Notice of Assessment) and your Social Insurance Number with your application. In some cases, an interview may be scheduled with a caseworker.

It is your responsibility to find a child care centre or family home day care for your child. You will need to let your Child Care Subsidy caseworker know when your child will be starting and the program’s daily fees.

If approved for subsidy, your caseworker will let you know how much the Community Services will contribute towards your child care costs. Your child care centre or family home day care agency will bill the department directly. Be sure to keep copies of all forms related to your child care subsidy application.

Forms

The Child Care Subsidy Program form(s) must be printed, completed and returned to your regional office (listed below).

• Child Care Subsidy Application and Information Consent form (PDF)
• Calculation of Current Income form (PDF)
  Please use this form if you do not have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment or if your income has changed by more than 20% since you last filed your return. This form, along with any other information as required on the form, must be submitted with a completed Child Care Subsidy Application and Information Consent form (above).

CENTRAL REGION OFFICE
44 Portland Street (4th floor)
PO Box 857
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B2Y 3Z5

EASTERN REGION OFFICE
Suite 25, Provincial Building
360 Prince Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5L1

NORTHERN REGION OFFICE
60 Lorne St.,
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 5G7

WESTERN REGION OFFICE
10 Webster Street
Suite 202
Kentville, Nova Scotia
B4N 1H7

Please provide feedback and/or comments using the Early Childhood Development Services contact form.