Child Care Subsidy

The Nova Scotia Government may provide partial funding for a subsidized space in a full day, licensed child care centre or a family home day care home should you qualify under the income guidelines. Several full day child care centres in the province have subsidized spaces. In addition, a limited number of additional portable subsidized spaces have been made available across the province for families who are eligible for the subsidy program. The centre you choose to care for your child must either have a centre-based subsidized space available or accept portable childcare subsidies.

Eligibility

All subsidized spaces are designated for children who are 12 years old and younger and can only apply to centres which provide full-day child care. The family's eligibility for child care subsidy will be assessed based on the family's social need, liquid assets and financial eligibility. When you contact the Child Care Subsidy Caseworker you will be informed of how much government will pay towards your daily child care costs. You may then set up an interview to review eligibility or you may print the application from the DCS website or pick the application up from a child care centre/Family Home Day Care agency and mail the application to DCS. You will be expected to provide proof of your earnings/income (e.g. income tax Notice of Assessment) and Social Insurance Number. Parents who meet the requirements for a subsidized child care space are required to pay a minimum portion of the child care fee. The least the parent will be required to pay is $1.00 per day per family. This amount increases depending upon the family income, the number of children receiving subsidy and the child care centre fees.

Next steps

You must contact a Child Care Subsidy Caseworker who will provide you with the details of how you can access one of these centre-based or portable spaces.

In Central Region contact the address below. In other regions, contact the appropriate local office.

Central Region Early Childhood Development Services (for Central Region applicants only)
DCS - Portland District Office
44 Portland Street (4th floor)
P.O. Box 857
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B2Y 3Z5

It will be your responsibility to locate a child care centre that is able to accept your child. (For center-based subsidy, you may be required to put your name on a waiting list for subsidy at the child care centre; for a portable subsidy you may be required to put your name on a wait list with the subsidy caseworker). Should the centre be able to accept your child, it is important that you determine what date your child can start and what the daily fee will be for the kind of care you are seeking. Once this has been done, you will contact the Child Care Subsidy Caseworker who will instruct you on how to finalize the application process.

How do I pay?

Once the application process is complete your Child Care Subsidy Caseworker will provide you with information on a centre-based or portable child care subsidy. The caseworker will also let you know how much subsidy you are entitled to. You will pay your portion of the child care centre fee directly to the centre based on their payment policies. Child care centres then bill the Department of Community Services for the difference. Be sure to keep copies of all forms related to your subsidy application process.

On-going Eligibility

Eligibility for Child Care Subsidy must be re-established by the applicant every 12 months, or more frequently as designated by the Child Care Subsidy Caseworker. Applicant/parents are required to notify the Caseworker of any change in their social or financial circumstances within seven (7) days of the occurrence of said change. Failure to notify the Child Care Subsidy Caseworker of these changes may result in cancellation of the Subsidy and recovery of any overpayment.

Related information

• Income Eligibility & Assessed Daily Parent Fee Changes (ADPF)
• Portable Subsidized Spaces
• Directory of Licensed Child Care Facilities
• Subsidy Program Terms and Conditions (PDF)