How to Apply for Alberta Child Care Subsidy: Income Limits, Amounts, and Steps

How to Apply for Alberta Child Care Subsidy

The Child Care Subsidy in Alberta helps families with children in full-time kindergarten or grades 1-6 who are enrolled in licensed childcare. Families with gross annual income under $90,000 may qualify. The subsidy amount depends on income, child's grade, type of program, and monthly hours.

Eligibility

• You, your spouse, or child must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident with a valid work permit, refugee claimant, or protected person.
• You or your spouse must be an Alberta resident.
• You or your spouse must be working, looking for work, attending school, or have special needs (or your child has special needs).
• Child must be 12 or younger and in full-time kindergarten (5 days/week) or grades 1-6.
• Child must have a spot in a licensed facility-based program or a licensed family day home.

Income calculation: Use Line 15000 from your most recent CRA Notice of Assessment, minus Line 32000 (education deductions) and Lines 33099/33199 (medical deductions). If income changed recently or you didn't file taxes, contact the program.

Subsidy Amounts (Monthly Maximum)

For full-time kindergarten to grade 6, outside school hours:

| Family Income | Kindergarten (facility, 100 hrs) | Kindergarten (family day home, 100 hrs) | Grades 1-6 (50 hrs) |

| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| $0-$49,999 | $644 | $516 | $366 |

| $50,000-$54,999 | $612 | $490 | $348 |

| $55,000-$59,999 | $547 | $439 | $311 |

| $60,000-$64,999 | $483 | $387 | $275 |

| $65,000-$69,999 | $419 | $335 | $238 |

| $70,000-$74,999 | $354 | $284 | $201 |

| $75,000-$79,999 | $290 | $232 | $165 |

| $80,000-$84,999 | $225 | $181 | $128 |

| $85,000-$89,999 | $161 | $129 | $92 |

Extended hours: If you need care outside regular hours (6 am-6 pm) or weekends, you can get an extra $100/month per child, if the program is approved and you need at least 4 extended hours per month.

Summer rates: For grades 1-6, rates increase in July and August (e.g., for income $0-$49,999, facility-based goes from $366 to $644), then return to regular in September.

How to Apply

1. Check eligibility.
2. Gather documents: Recent tax notice, childcare program info.
3. Apply online using an Alberta.ca Account through Child Care Subsidy Online Services. This is fastest. You'll need to submit the Declaration and CRA Consent form if not done before.
4. Wait for assessment: You'll get an estimate, but final approval after review. May need extra documents.
5. Approval: You'll get a letter with start/end dates and amount paid to the program. Approval may take weeks, but if you apply in the month you want subsidy to start, it's retroactive to that month.

Paper applications are possible but slower.

Common Pitfalls

• Wrong income calculation: Using wrong line numbers or not subtracting education/medical deductions.
• Missing documents: If you don't submit all documents within 2 months, subsidy may be cancelled and you may have to repay.
• Missing renewal: Subsidy expires; renew before end of following month after expiry.
• Applying late: Subsidy starts from the month you apply, not earlier. You can apply a month before childcare starts.
• Special needs: Must submit Verification for Need for Child Care – Special Needs form.

Official Sources

• https://www.alberta.ca/child-care-subsidy