Child Care Subsidy

What is child care subsidy?

Child care subsidy is a program offered by the Region of Peel that helps you to pay for licensed child care if you are the parent, foster parent or legal guardian of a child from birth to 12 years of age that lives with you. Subsidised care may be available in our 12 Learn.Play.Care. Centres or in over 450 other centres and home-based child care programs.

What is Licensed Home Child Care? (.pdf brochure, 2 pages, 480 KB)

Licensed Home Child Care Agency (.pdf, 1 page, 56 KB)

Early Learning Services Licensed Home Child Care Operating Criteria (.pdf, 11 pages, 429KB)

Who can apply for child care subsidy?

Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, refugees with a valid work permit or school authorization are eligible to apply for child care subsidy.

Working parents:

You can apply if you are working full time or part time. To verify your hours of work you must provide two recent consecutive pay stubs or a letter from your employer on company letterhead confirming the hours of work and rate of pay.

Self-employed parents:

You are generally considered to be self-employed if you are actively conducting a full-time self-employed activity and you claim business expenses against your income.

Student parents:

You must be attending school or a recognized training program on a full-time or part-time regular basis. This may include high school, English as a Second Language (ESL), college/university and training programs.

Families with special needs:

If you require child care due to the special needs of your child or as a support in meeting your own special needs, you will be required to provide written documentation from a physician, health care agency or organization regarding the need for child care and ongoing involvement with your family.

If you are participating in the Ontario Works Program and need child care, contact your Ontario Works Case Worker.

How do you apply?

Check your eligibility and apply online.
Complete all sections of the subsidy application form (PDF 149 KB, 2 pages) that apply to you and print the form.
Mail or drop off the completed application along with copies of the required documents. We do not accept faxed copies.

Mailing Address:

Early Learning Services
Region of Peel
PO Box 2136, STN B
Brampton, ON L6T 0E3

Street Address:

Region of Peel
10 Peel Centre Drive
Brampton, ON L6T 0E3

Map

*For your convenience, there are three drop boxes at 10 Peel Centre Drive. All drop-boxes are available 24 hours a day.

A drive-through drop-box is located in the drive lane on the south side of the building (off Peel Centre Drive). You can deposit your documents without leaving your vehicle.
There are two walk-up drop-boxes, both located off Peel Centre Drive:

At the west entrance doors
Beside the main south entrance

How do you find a placement for your child?

Subsidy is available in a variety of child care settings. You, the parent, choose the type of care you want for your child, either in a licensed day care centre or with a home child care provider through a licensed home child care agency.

See the list of the child care programs (PDF 137 KB, 16 pages) that have agreements with the Region of Peel. It’s a good idea to visit several child care centres and home child care agencies in your area to help you choose which program is best for your child.

Make a list of programs that meet the age(s) of your child(ren) and the hours of care you need. Some centres require you to register with them directly in order for your name to be placed on their waiting list. This is important as some centres have long waiting lists.

How do we determine if you are eligible to be placed on the Child Care Subsidy Wait List?

We review your family’s income. You will need to give us a copy of your Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Tax Benefit Notice if you receive the Universal Child Care Benefit ($100/month/child) for the most recent available tax year. We must have one of these documents to determine whether you are eligible.

When will you receive child care subsidy?

When we receive your completed application and required documents, we will determine if you are eligible to be placed on the first-come, first-served wait list. We will write to you either to confirm you have been placed on the wait list or to tell you why you are not eligible.

When your name reaches the top of the wait list and we have funding, we will ask you to come to our office to meet with us. Please make sure you bring all the documents (2 pages, 767KB) we will need to see so we can confirm your eligibility and your child care fees.

Both parents, if applicable, must attend the interview.

What if you need child care now?

You may need child care because you are working or attending school. If you decide to place your child in a child care program while you are waiting for subsidy, you will be responsible to pay for the full cost of child care.

How do you maintain your eligibility on the child care subsidy wait list?

Reporting changes in your situation:

It is your responsibility to tell your Intake Screening Worker immediately about any changes to the information submitted.

Verification letters and requests for information:

It is important that you answer all letters and/or requests for information by the deadline date given. This will ensure that your place on the wait list is maintained. If you have any questions about any correspondence received, please contact your Intake Screening Worker immediately.

Who is your intake screening worker?

Your Intake Screening Worker or ISW is your first point of contact and will provide help and support while you remain on the subsidy waiting list.

You can find out which ISW works with your family by:

Phoning Children’s Services at 905-791-1585 or
Referring to the name and extension at the bottom of your received correspondence/letters by mail.

Parent Policy

Parent Policy Agreement