York Region Child Care Fee Subsidy

• Notice of Assessment for the most recent tax year or Canada Child Benefit Notice
• Birth certificate, immigration documents, citizenship cards, Canadian Passport, separation agreement/divorce/marriage document, or Child Custody Order, as applicable
• Proof of residency in York Region, such as a lease agreement, landlord letter, mortgage statement, or proof of purchase
• Documents showing recognized need, such as pay stubs, employment letter, OSAP Assessment Summary Form, school registration and timetable, business registration, master business license, Articles of Incorporation, T1 General income tax return including the statement of business activities, or Special Needs, Significant Risk or Exceptional Circumstances form (CCS 6), as applicable
• For self-employed clients: T1 General including T2125 Statement of Business Activities, Master Business License or Business Registration, Letter of Employment, or Articles of Incorporation, as applicable

Who is eligible?

• Families who live in York Region
• Families with children younger than 13 years of age
• Families who file their income tax return every year
• Parents or caregivers who have a need during child care hours because they are employed, attending an educational or training program, or have an exceptional circumstance

Who is not eligible

• Temporary residents who do not have a requirement to file taxes in Canada
• Tourists, visitors, and persons under an active deportation order, exclusion order, or warrant for arrest

Eligible expenses

• The cost of full-day care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children
• The cost of before- and after-school care on instructional days for school-age children enrolled year-round
• The cost of full-day care during PA days and school breaks for school-age children enrolled year-round

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Private programs, such as after-school karate

• Applications are prioritized based on income level and date of application.
• Priority may also be affected by the number of applications and funding availability.

• Use the Child Care Fee Subsidy Calculator to see if you may be eligible based on your income.
• Create an account on the Children’s Services Portal.
• Inform your Children’s Services Representative by phone or email once your account is set up.
• Upload the required Fee Subsidy documents through the Children’s Services portal upload documents feature.
• Use the Early Years Program Finder to search for licensed child care and contact the provider(s).
• Call KIDS Line at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday to apply by phone.

• Once the application and required documents are received, the applicant is placed on a fee subsidy waitlist.
• When the applicant’s name reaches the top of the list, the family is contacted for an eligibility meeting.
• If eligibility criteria are met, the applicant is approved for fee subsidy and informed of the amount to pay the provider.
• To maintain the subsidy, families must follow the guidelines in the Parent Agreement, including participating in an annual review.
• Families can appeal a decision by submitting the review appeal request form within 15 business days of receiving the decision.

• This is a first-come-first-served program.
• Wait times vary based on the application date, next available eligibility meeting, priority status, and funding availability.
• If documents are missing, your eligibility meeting may be rescheduled.
• Families may appeal a decision by submitting the review appeal request form within 15 business days of receiving the decision.