Toddlers laughing

Child Care Fee Help (Subsidy)

Home Living Here Living with Low-IncomeChild 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.

How do I qualify for child care subsidy?

To qualify for child care subsidy, you 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.

Child care fee subsidy calculator

To estimate how much you will have to pay for licensed child care, try our Fee Subsidy Calculator.

How do I get child care fee subsidy?

Fill out our application form to apply for the subsidy or contact us to complete an application by phone.

Application Form

Process

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

As instructed in the application, your Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Benefit Notice must be emailed to us separately, as part of your application.

To receive child care subsidy, you will need:

Identification (ID) for everyone in your family.
Revenue Canada Income Tax Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Tax Notice.
Proof of address.
Paystubs, a work letter, or school information showing a start and end date.
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 Children's Program Map

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 life.

Please let us know if:

You stop going to work for any reason.
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.