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Nova Scotia Child Care Subsidy Program

The Child Care Subsidy Program helps eligible families by paying for a portion of their child care fees charged by licensed child care facilities, approved family home child care agencies, and approved Nova Scotia Before and After Programs.

About the program

Families can apply for the Nova Scotia Child Care Subsidy Program if they have children 12 years old and younger enrolled in a licensed child care facility, approved family home child care agencies, or approved Nova Scotia Before and After Programs.

Applications are assessed by a Child Care Subsidy Caseworker within 8 weeks of your submission.  A caseworker may contact you with additional questions, and will notify you when a decision has been made regarding your application. 

If you are approved to receive child care subsidy, your subsidy will be backdated to the day we received your complete application.

Eligibility

Your eligibility for the Nova Scotia Child Care Subsidy Program is reviewed at least once every year.

Eligibility is based on your family's financial situation. We will do an assessment of your current financial circumstances and families with assessed incomes under $70,000 are eligible for the subsidy program.

After you have been approved for the subsidy

Once the subsidy is in place the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will provide the funding directly to the chosen licensed child care facility, approved family home child care agency, or approved Nova Scotia Before and After Program.

If you transfer your child/ren to another (approved) location, contact your caseworker and your subsidy can be transferred.

You are required to notify your caseworker if you or your partner/spouse have changes to the following:

  • employment
  • income
  • address
  • marital status
  • contact details
  • custody arrangements
  • child care arrangements
  • residency status

If you do not notify us and we pay you too much, 3 things may happen:

  • you may have to pay us back
  • we may cancel your subsidy
  • we may take you to court

Early Learning and Child Care Regulations 55 (5) (6)

Before you Begin

The application form is in English. 
If English is not your first language it is helpful to ask an English-speaking person to help you when completing the form.

Filling out the application generally takes less than 60 minutes.
Make sure you plan for enough time to complete the application process. The form completion time will depend on your family and financial situation. 

There is a 30 minute timeout for each screen of the application.
If you don't move from one screen to another within that 30 minute timeframe your application will be considered to be abandoned and any information you have provided up to that point will be discarded.

  • To prevent this make sure you progress through the screens within the allotted time.
  • We also recommend preparing all documents and information before starting so that you can proceed smoothly through the application.

Preparing to Apply

Prepare digital files of your supporting documents so they are ready to upload. 

You can upload files of the following types:

  • PDF documents
  • images or photos in gif, jpg, jpeg, png, or heic (iPhone photo) formats
     

Review the categories below to identify the types of information and documents that you (and your partner/spouse) may be required to submit.

 

If you (or your partner/spouse) are not a Canadian citizen, you'll need to provide a copy of one of the following:

  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Refugee Protection Claimant Documentation (RPCD)
  • Temporary Resident Card (work or study visas)

If you — or your partner/spouse (if applicable) — are employed, you will (each) be asked for the following information:

  1. Your most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA)

  2. Pay Information
    • 3 current pay slips (3 slips from each of your employers), or 
    • a letter of employment (one letter from each of your employers ; the letter needs to include your hours and earnings).
  3. Your employment information (for each of your jobs):
    • employer name
    • start date (month/year)

If you — or your partner/spouse (if applicable) — are unemployed, you will (each) be asked to provide the following information:

  1. Your most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA)

  2. Your Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits Information (if applicable):
    • your weekly payment amount
    • your 'My Latest Claim' Employment Insurance (EI) statement

If you — or your partner/spouse (if applicable) — are a student, you will (each) be asked to provide the following information:

  1. Your most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA)

  2. School contact information:
    • proof of enrollment (notice of acceptance)
    • school name
    • program
    • start date (month/year)
    • estimated finish date (month/year)

If you — or your partner/spouse (if applicable) — are a student and employed, you will (each) be asked to provide the following information:

  1. Your most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA)

  2. Pay Information
    • 3 current pay slips (3 slips from each of your employers), or 
    • a letter of employment (one letter from each of your employers ; the letter needs to include your hours and earnings).
  3. Your employment information (for each of your jobs):
    • employer name
    • start date (month/year)
  4. School contact information:
    • proof of enrollment (notice of acceptance)
    • school name
    • program
    • start date (month/year)
    • estimated finish date (month/year)

If you have a shared custody agreement you must provide one of the following:

  • court order (if currently available)
  • private custody agreement (verbal/written)

If you - or your partner/spouse - are participating in any of these programs you will need to provide the following information:

  1. Summary of Benefits
  2. Contact information for your Department of Community Services caseworker:
    • first name
    • last name

You and your partner/spouse must report all other sources of income, for example:

  • death benefits
  • income from rental properties
  • tips/bonuses
  • workers compensation benefits
  • pension benefits
  • insurance benefits
  • investment income
  • income from trusts, estates, royalties, or other assets

Apply Online

When you have all of your information ready, proceed to the application form.

Start now

Related Information


Intake Toll free: 1-844-804-2084

Regional office locations

Halifax
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: Child Care Subsidy Program 
2021 Brunswick St P.O. Box 578 
Halifax, NS B3J 2S9 
Intake: 902-424-2084

Truro
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: Child Care Subsidy Program 
60 Lorne Street Room 100 
Truro, NS 
B2N 3K3

Windsor
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: Child Care Subsidy Program 
8 Water Street 
Windsor, NS 
B0N 2T0

Yarmouth
Office Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: Child Care Subsidy Program 
10 Starrs Road
Yarmouth, NS 
B5A 2T1

Sydney
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: Child Care Subsidy Program 
1030 Prince Street, Suite 6 
Sydney, NS 
B1P 5P6

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