Affordable Childcare Benefit (ACCB)
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Residency and Status: Applicants must be residents of British Columbia and either Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Convention refugees, or persons in need of protection.
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Qualifying Reasons for Child Care: Eligible reasons include working or self-employment, attending school, participating in an employment program, looking for work (only one parent), living with a medical condition that interferes with the ability to care for the child, the child attending a licensed preschool program, or the child care being arranged or recommended by a Ministry of Children and Family Development or Indigenous Child and Family Services Agency social worker.
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Income and Family Size: Funding amounts are income-tested. Families earning up to $111,000 annually may qualify, with potential for higher earnings if there are significant deductions for family size or children with support needs.
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Types of Eligible Child Care: Most types of licensed child care are eligible, but non-licensed child care provided by a family member living in the same household, licensed occasional care, or drop-in care are not eligible for funding.
Childcare Reduction Fee Initiative (CCRFI)
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Eligibility: All families with children aged 12 and under at participating licensed child care centres are eligible. The program is not income-tested.
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Fee Reductions: Full-time care can receive up to $900 per month per child, while part-time care receives a pro-rated amount.
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Minimum Parent Fee: Out-of-pocket fees for families will not be reduced below $200 per month for full-time care, or $140 per month for part-time care, with limited exceptions.
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Optional Fees: Providers may charge optional fees for services like meals or transportation, but families can opt out of these services.
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Fee Increase Limit: Participating providers are limited to increasing fees by no more than 3% of the regional median fee annually, with limited exceptions.
To estimate the costs of your reduced monthly childcare fee, please refer to our Program Outlines for pricing and use the estimator below to calculate your total fees.
Childcare Reduction Fee Initiative (CCRFI)
The CCFRI is a B.C. government program that lowers monthly child care fees for families with children in licensed child care. Participating providers receive funding to reduce parent fees directly—families don’t need to apply. The initiative helps make child care more affordable, with savings of up to $900 per month for full-time care.
Affordable Childcare Benefit (ACCB)
The ACCB is a monthly subsidy from the B.C. government that helps low- to moderate-income families cover the cost of child care. The amount families receive depends on income, family size, and child care type. Eligible families must apply and renew annually.