Toddlers laughing

Child Care Fee Help (Subsidy)

Home Living Here Child Care and Early YearsChild Care Fee Help (Subsidy)

The Regional Municipality of Durham's Child Care Fee Subsidy Program helps families who live in the Durham Region pay for licensed child care and approved full-day recreation programs. There is no waitlist for Child Care Fee Subsidy in the Region of Durham, however waitlists for licensed child care are growing. For more information on securing a child care space at a licensed child care provider or approved recreation program, please visit the Finding Quality Child Care page.

How do I qualify for child care subsidy?

To qualify for Child Care Fee Subsidy, you and your spouse (if applicable) must live in Durham Region and meet one of the following approved activities:

Be working.
Be going to school.
Have a special or social need (parent or child).
Receive Ontario Works (with a referral from your Ontario Works worker).

There are also financial criteria that must be met.

Use the fee subsidy calculator to get an estimate of how much you may have to pay per day for licensed child care.

Fee Subsidy Calculator

How do I get child care fee subsidy?

If you answer 'Yes' to all of the following questions, fill out our application form below:

Do you need child care within the next three months?

Have you secured a child care space at a licensed child care operator or approved recreation program?

Do you have an approved start date at a licensed child care operator or approved recreation program?

Are you working or going to school, or have a special or social need (parent or child)?

Do you have your most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Canada Child Benefit (CCB) notice? Note: An NOA/CCB is not required if you are a new immigrant. You will need your immigration documents showing your arrival date in Canada.

If you answered "No" to any of the above questions, do not move forward with this application.

If you have questions or need to complete this application by phone, please contact our office at 905-666-6239 or toll free at 1-800-372-1102.

Application for fee subsidy

Eligibility process

You will receive email communication from the Fee Subsidy team within one week of us receiving your application.

As instructed in the application, your Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Benefit Notice must be uploaded as part of your application.

To receive child care subsidy, you will need:

The name of the licensed child care operator or approved recreation program where you have secured a space.
A confirmed start date from within three months of the date of application.
Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Tax Notice.
Proof of address.
Current work or school verification for parents.
Special or social needs form.
Custody court order (if you have one).

Child care options and directory

Child care options are the parent's choice.

Our office has agreements with:

Licensed child care centres
Licensed home child care agencies
Some recreation programs

Watch the video below to learn how to use the Children’s Program Locator or Child Care Directory to find licensed care that meets your family’s needs.

Use the Child Care Directory or Children's Program Map to find licensed child care.

Child Care Directory Child Care Program Locator

How to keep your subsidy

Every year we review your application to keep your subsidy going.

You must tell us if there have been any changes in your family situation.

Please let us know if:

You stop going to work for any reason. (e.g., maternity leave or a change in job).
You stop going to school for any reason.
Your family members change (e.g., a spouse moves out or moves in).
You move or change your address or contact information (email or phone number).

See our Fee Subsidy Parent Handbook for more details.

The Region of Durham is committed to providing excellent customer service by ensuring a respectful, equitable and harassment-free workplace and space for employees and customers. The Region has adopted a Public Code of Conduct Policy which outlines expectations for appropriate behaviour by all individuals when interacting with Regional Staff, Members of Regional Council, and other patrons and users of Regional facilities and services. All customers and employees of the Region of Durham are entitled to a respectful and harassment-free environment at all of our facilities and public spaces.