Notice Type
Departmental
Childcare Assistance Welfare Programme Pursuant to section 124 (1) (d) of the Social Security Act 1964, I, Roger Morrison Sowry, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income, approve the following Welfare Programme to take effect on 1 February 1999. I revoke with effect on that date my approval of the Childcare Subsidy Programme dated 27 March 1996, and its amendments. Dated this 19th day of December 1998. Hon. ROGER SOWRY, Minister of Social Services, Work and Income. PROGRAMME 1. Title and commencement (1) This programme is called the Childcare Assistance Welfare Programme. (2) This programme comes into effect on 1 February 1999. PART 1 General Provisions 2. Definitions (1) In this programme, unless the context otherwise requires, ``Act'' means the Social Security Act 1964: ``Applicant'' means the person applying for a childcare subsidy or an OSCAR subsidy, and includes a person in respect of whom any such subsidy is paid: ``Childcare subsidy'' means the assistance available under Part 2 of this programme: ``Eligible child'' has the appropriate meaning in Part 2 or Part 3 of this programme: ``Fee charging'', in relation to a kindergarten or playcentre, means one that imposes a uniform monetary fee for the attendance of a child at the kindergarten or playcentre: ``Income'', in relation to a principal caregiver of a child, has the meaning in section 3 (1) of the Act, except that it includes (a) the amount of any benefit received by the principal caregiver and any other caregiver of the child; and (b) the amount of any child support received by the principal caregiver and any other caregiver of the child under the Child Support Act 1991; and (c) the amount of any income received by the other caregiver of the child: ``OSCAR programme'' means a programme for children's out of school care and recreation which has been approved by the chief executive under clause 13 of this programme: ``OSCAR subsidy'' means the assistance available under Part 3 of this programme: ``Other caregiver'', in relation to a child, means a person who is living together with the principal caregiver of the child and who is a parent, a step-parent, or a person having the responsibilities of a parent in relation to the child: ``Pre-school facility'' means (a) an early childhood centre licensed under the Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998; or (b) a family daycare programme approved by the Secretary for Education which is subject to the Education (Homebased Care) Order 1992; or (c) a Te Kohanga Reo chartered by the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust; or (d) a fee charging kindergarten licensed by the Ministry of Education and affiliated to either the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Association Inc., or the Kindergarten Federation; or (e) a fee charging playcentre licensed by the Ministry of Education and affiliated to the New Zealand Playcentre Federation: ``Seriously disabled or ill'', in relation to a person, means the person has a condition which results in a reduction of the person's independent function and is likely to continue for at least 6 months: ``Week'' means a calendar week commencing on a Monday and ending on the following Sunday: ``Year'', in relation to a childcare subsidy or an OSCAR subsidy, means the period of 52 weeks commencing on the date of grant for the subsidy: (2) Terms otherwise defined in section 3 (1) of the Act have the meanings so defined, except where the context otherwise requires. 3. Application of the Social Security Act 1964 Sections 12, 62, 64, 66, 66a, 66b, 68, 68a, 70b, 71, 71a, 73, 74, 74a, 77, 80 (1), 80a, 80bd (1), 81, and 84 of the Act apply to this programme, and to applicants for assistance under this programme, as if the special assistance available under this programme were a benefit under the Act. 4. General Provisions (1) The rate of childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy must not exceed the actual fee paid for (a) the eligible child's attendance at the pre-school facility or OSCAR programme; or (b) where clause 5 (2) applies, keeping the eligible child's place open. (2) A childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy may continue to be paid for up to 12 weeks during a period when the eligible child's principal caregiver, or where applicable, other caregiver, is unable to work due to sickness, illness, injury, or disability, if that subsidy would not otherwise be payable because of that inability. (3) Where the eligible child's principal caregiver's, or where applicable, other caregiver's, employment has ceased, but he or she has arranged new employment, a childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy may continue to be paid for up to 10 working days before the start of the new employment. (4) The number of hours attended by the eligible child at a pre-school facility or an OSCAR programme must be calculated on a weekly basis. (5) Where a child for whom a child disability allowance is payable is aged 5, either a childcare subsidy or an OSCAR subsidy may be paid in respect of that child, but not both. 5. Notice of Absence (1) Whenever an eligible child is absent from a pre-school facility or OSCAR programme the applicant must advise an officer of the department, within a reasonable time, of the child's absence. (2) A childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy may be paid for up to 35 days per year during any period when (a) the pre-school facility or OSCAR programme is open; but (b) the eligible child is unable to attend because (i) of injury or illness; or (ii) he or she is on holiday; or (iii) family bereavement; and (c) a fee is charged by the pre-school facility or OSCAR programme to keep that child's place available. 6. Application for Childcare Subsidy or Oscar Subsidy (1) Every application for a childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy must be on such form as the chief executive requires. (2) The applicant must supply such evidence as the chief executive requires to satisfy the chief executive that the applicant is eligible for a childcare subsidy or OSCAR subsidy under Part 2 or Part 3 of this programme. PART 2 Childcare Subsidy 7. Objectives The objectives of the childcare subsidy are to assist low income caregivers who have dependent children (a) to undertake and remain in employment; (b) to undertake education or training; (c) who are seriously disabled or seriously ill; or (d) who are themselves seriously disabled or seriously ill; by helping them obtain access to a pre-school facility. 8. Eligibility for Childcare Subsidy (1) The chief executive may pay a childcare subsidy in respect of an eligible child for up to 9 hours a week, where the child's principal caregiver is not engaged in an activity. (2) Subject to subclause (4), the chief executive may pay a childcare subsidy for up to 30 hours per week, in respect of an eligible child whose principal caregiver is seriously disabled or ill, where a registered medical practitioner has certified as to this and to the principal caregiver's requirement for childcare for more than 9 hours per week. (3) Subject to subclause (4), the chief executive may pay a childcare subsidy for up to 30 hours per week in respect of an eligible child (a) during the time the child's principal caregiver is engaged in an activity (including any time taken by the principal caregiver in travelling between the pre-school facility and the activity); or (b) where the principal caregiver is engaged in shift employment, in respect of the hours the caregiver is engaged in that employment (whether or not the child attends the pre-school facility during those hours or at other times when the caregiver intends to sleep). (4) Except where subclause 5 (c) or subclause 6 (b) (i) applies a childcare subsidy is not payable under subclause (2) or subclause (3) where an eligible child's other caregiver is not engaged in an activity, unless the chief executive considers that for a good reason the other caregiver is unable to care for the child. (5) In this Part, ``eligible child'', means a dependent child who is (a) under the age of 5; or (b) aged 5, and not yet attending a school (but the child ceases to be an eligible child 4 weeks after attaining the age of 5); or (c) under the age of 6 and is a child for whom a child disability allowance is payable; and (d) attending a pre-school facility for 3 or more hours a week. (6) In this Part, ``activity'', in relation to a person, means, (a) an activity the person is engaged in, being (i) paid employment, whether full-time, part-time, temporary, or casual; or (ii) a rehabilitation programme approved by the chief executive; or (iii) 1 or more organised activities under section 111 or section 123b of the Act; or (iv) an employment-related training course offered by a course provider accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority; or (v) any other employment-related training course approved by the chief executive, where the person would otherwise be denied a training opportunity; or (b) The person (being the applicant) is providing care as the principal caregiver of a child (not being the child for whom the subsidy is sought) (i) for whom a child disability allowance is payable; or (ii) who is in hospital. 9. Payment and Rates of Childcare Subsidy (1) A childcare subsidy may be paid at the appropriate rate set out in Schedule 1. (2) Subject to clause 5 (2), a childcare subsidy may be paid only in respect of the hours the eligible child attends the pre-school facility and for no more than 30 hours a week. (3) A childcare subsidy must be paid directly to the pre-school facility which the eligible child attends. PART 3 Out of School Care and Recreation Subsidy 10. Objective (1) The objective of the OSCAR subsidy is to assist low income caregivers to enter and remain in employment. 11. OSCAR Subsidy (1) In this Part ``eligible child'' means a dependent child who is aged not less than 5 and not more than 13 and attends an OSCAR programme for 3 or more hours a week. (2) The chief executive may pay an OSCAR subsidy in respect of an eligible child where that child's principal caregiver (a) is engaged in paid employment, whether part-time, temporary, casual, or full-time; or (b) is attending, under section 111 or section 123b of the Act, 1 or more organised activities. (3) An OSCAR subsidy is not payable under subclause (2) where paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) of that subclause do not apply to an eligible child's other caregiver, unless the chief executive is satisfied that for a good reason that caregiver is unable to care for the child. 12. Payment and Rates of OSCAR Subsidy (1) An OSCAR subsidy may be paid at the appropriate rate set out in Schedule 2. (2) Subject to clauses 5 (2) and 12 (3), every OSCAR subsidy may be paid only in respect of the hours the eligible child attends an OSCAR programme in any week (including any time taken by the child's principal caregiver in travelling between the programme and paid employment or an organised activity) for up to (a) 20 hours a week during the school term; or (b) 30 hours a week during the school holidays. (3) Where the principal caregiver is engaged in shift employment, an OSCAR subsidy may be paid in respect of the hours the caregiver is engaged in that employment (whether or not the child attends the OSCAR programme during those hours or at other times when the caregiver intends to sleep) for up to the hours the eligible child attends the programme, but not more than (a) 20 hours a week during the school term; or (b) 30 hours a week during the school holidays. (4) An OSCAR subsidy must be paid directly to the applicant. 13. Approval of OSCAR Programmes (1) The chief executive may approve an OSCAR programme for the purposes of this programme if the OSCAR programme has been approved as a Community Service under section 403 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989. (2) For the purposes of the interim period 1 February 1999 to 31 July 1999, the chief executive may approve an OSCAR programme for the purposes of this programme if the OSCAR programme is affiliated to the National Association for Out of School Care and Recreation (NAOSCAR). Every approval under this subclause expires at midnight on 31 July 1999. (3) An approval given under subclause (1) expires if the OSCAR programme ceases to be approved as a Community Service under section 403 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act, or if that approval is suspended or revoked under section 405 of that Act. (4) The chief executive may revoke an approval under subclause (2) if satisfied that (a) the OSCAR programme is no longer affiliated to the National Association for Out of School Care; or (b) the OSCAR programme is not providing care to the children taking part in it to the standard required of a programme so affiliated. Schedule 1 Rates of Childcare Subsidy Clause 9 Childcare subsidy 1. For a principal caregiver with 1 dependent child and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $520.00 a week $2.32 per hour (b) $570.00 a week $1.61 per hour (c) $620.00 a week $0.89 per hour 2. For a principal caregiver with 2 dependent children and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $640.00 a week $2.32 per hour (b) $690.00 a week $1.61 per hour (c) $740.00 a week $0.89 per hour 3. For a principal caregiver with 3 or more dependent children and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $750.00 a week $2.32 per hour (b) $800.00 a week $1.61 per hour (c) $850.00 a week $0.89 per hour Schedule 2 Rates of OSCAR Subsidy Clause 12 OSCAR subsidy 1. For a principal caregiver with 1 dependent child and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $520.00 a week $1.80 per hour (b) $570.00 a week $1.25 per hour (c) $620.00 a week $0.70 per hour 2. For a principal caregiver with 2 dependent children and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $640.00 a week $1.80 per hour (b) $690.00 a week $1.25 per hour (c) $740.00 a week $0.70 per hour 3. For a principal caregiver with 3 or more dependent children and whose income before tax is less than: (a) $750.00 a week $1.80 per hour (b) $800.00 a week $1.25 per hour (c) $850.00 a week $0.70 per hour Explanatory Note: This note is not part of the Welfare Programme but is intended to indicate its general effect. This programme comes into effect on 1 February 1999, and provides assistance for the payment of pre-school and after school care. A childcare subsidy aims to assist caregivers entering work or training, caregivers with a serious illness or disability, or caregivers whose dependent child or children have a serious illness or disability, by assisting with the cost of pre-school care. An OSCAR subsidy aims to assist caregivers to take up and remain in paid employment, by assisting with the cost of after school care. An OSCAR subsidy is also available to those attending an organised activity under the Social Security Act 1964.
Publication Date
14 Jan 1999

Notice Number

1999-go232

Page Number

60