Childcare Fees and Benefit

[Mrs Dolphin]

Hi

I am just starting to look into the whole Childcare thing and as I haven't had any dealings with childcare at all I have no idea! Can someone please tell me how it all works...like how much per hour an average day care centre will charge and then how the Childcare benefit works.

Also I have heard that you have to pay for the whole day even if your child is only there part of the day - is this correct? I am looking into whether or not it is worth me going back to work part time once childcare costs are taken into consideration.

I don't know if rates are the same Australia wide but I would be particluarly interested in WA rates etc.

Many thanks :)

[mum23girls]

The childcare benefit is VERY hard to understand.... the best way would be to ring centerlink and find out what "percentage" you would be entitled to and then speak to the childcare centre and get how much you would actually pay....

When looking into percentages, it is not say 100% of the whole total... it is a percentage of a certain dollar amount of the first few dollars, as I said it is very confusing!! I have been using the childcare system for 7 years and still have no idea!!

If going back to work you would also be entitled to a 30% rebate of out of pocket expenses...payable the following financial year.

Most centres here in brisbane do charge for either a long day or short day (that is like off-peak times). You would have to ask about that too.....

Good luck!!

[Amberlea]

Hi
Can someone please tell me how it all works...like how much per hour an average day care centre will charge and then how the Childcare benefit works.

Also I have heard that you have to pay for the whole day even if your child is only there part of the day - is this correct?

I don't know if rates are the same Australia wide but I would be particluarly interested in WA rates etc.
Many thanks :)

First of all - the daily/hourly rate depends on the daycare centre - some offer hourly rates - some only do daily rates which you must pay no matter how many hours your child is in care for - the centres that normally do this are the ones who provide all meals/nappies/etc.
(my daughters one charges $65 a day regardless of how many hours she is there for)

You will need to ring around a few centres in your area to find out how they charge and how much it is.

I get 104% child care rebate(two children in care) and it drops my daily fee down from $65 to $31 ... so it almost equals half price.. but once again it depends on the way each centre calculates it.

[SMBT]

It also depends on how many hours you work aswell. I only work less than 10 hours per week and was only entitled to 2 days kindy for my child in the day care centres.

I pay $33 for the two days per week and I know that the cost daily is $45 and my rebate is 78% but every centre has different daily costs, so just ring around and find out, or ring which centres you want to attend etc.