Can't get CCB for new preschool

[Liz]

Yeah, I think ours works out about the same per year when you take into account school holidays & public holidays that I now don't have to pay for. Trouble is we're doing 2 days at the new preschool, so it works out to be the equivalent of the old place without any benefits/rebates. All a bit confusing, but budget-wise, I still budget for about the same as 1 day at the old place, I just don't get anything back at the end of the day.. but at least we get 2 days out of it. hehe.

[briggsy's girl]

if it is a registered care provider, you need to be working or studying at least 15 hours per week and earning minimum wage from your business (so taking at least a wage of 13.50 ball park per hour for those 15 hours) otherwise you won't qualify for registered care.

you have up to a year to claim registered care, so can claim in a lump sum - most people wait til the end of term (even if you pay in advance, you can only claim what has been used) or every six months to make it worth while to claim

[Shalou]

Thanks for bringing up this topic as it's one I've been struggling to understand and work out. My DD is currently in a childcare centre and we get CCB & CCR but when she moves to the preschool we lose our CCB & CCR. I wasn't sure whether this was because the preschool we've chosen is part of the state education system so not classed as 'daycare' anymore and instead classed as 'school'

Thanks for the info about approved and registered care, I'll look this up on the Centrelink website and see if there is anything there that would apply to our situation before I start questioning the preschool. I've been putting off asking the preschool because I didn't want to be the crazy new mum

[Willow]

We're in the same boat Liz although when we last claimed ours, we were both working and I still only got about $150 back, so it's not much at all.

But DD's preschool is FAR cheaper than the long day care next door and I prefer her to go to a 'proper' preschool with school hours and children her age (ours is 3&4 yr olds only) than a long day care centre which caters for all ages iykwim?

[Liz]

BG - the site said 'starting up a business' counts towards being qualified.. most people aren't earning anything when starting up a business? And even looking for work - or do you have to be on the dole for that?

Willow - yeah same here. Ours is $35 a day, but only during school terms, and we don't pay for public holidays. Whereas where he was (long day care took kids from 2yrs old, but was in a 3yr old class) was $51, with all the rebates, but continues through holidays and even have to pay public holidays even tho you don't attend!! I'm glad a spot came up at the proper preschool too, it's where we wanted him initially.. we were just on the waiting list

[Bathsheba]

I'm still a bit confused by this as well... but thankyou BG for trying to explain. I recently had my 2yo in an approved centre which has the Commonwealth rebate (meaning we will get back 50% in April). I rang CentreLink prior to enrolling him and confirmed our status (whether we were eligible to get the rebate because I'm not working and it would have been too much for our budget otherwise). I said that I am currently considering returning to study (and need child-free time to speak to course advisors etc) and also wishing to volunteer at my older son's school (during the hours my 2yo was in care) and CentreLink said that yes, I would qualify for the rebate based on that. All I needed was 1 day a week though.

So we enrolled him but he only did a few sessions before alarm bells rung about some of the staff members... and we have pulled him out. I'm looking at other centres now. So, now I know to look out for Approved centres rather than Registered centres (at least until i start study or work)... so thanks again for the info!

[briggsy's girl]

BG - the site said 'starting up a business' counts towards being qualified.. most people aren't earning anything when starting up a business? And even looking for work - or do you have to be on the dole for that?

nope, no need to be on income support - BUT you do have to be working or actively looking for work at least 15 hours per week. i'll admit it is rarely checked, but sometimes it is, so you HAVE to keep a diary of it, cos if you're found to say you're doing X and on checking you're not, they will make you pay it all back!

So, now I know to look out for Approved centres rather than Registered centres (at least until i start study or work)... so thanks again for the info!

definitely look for approved care - you'll get up to 24 hours of CCB a week if you don't meet the work study training test (the bits i mentioned about 15 hours of whatever) - 50 hours if you do. you ONLY qualify for the CCR if you meet the work study training test, so again, keep a record

the work study training test can be a combination of factors - so if you're studying, you might have one contact day (6 hours), volunteer at the school (4 hours) and study at home (5 hours) per week - that meets it - but keep a really good record! as i said, i am yet to personally see anyone be investigated but it will be happening in the near future as it seems that EVERYONE is getting CCR and i think it's filtering through that some of those people don't qualify kwim?

Thanks for the info about approved and registered care, I'll look this up on the Centrelink website and see if there is anything there that would apply to our situation before I start questioning the preschool. I've been putting off asking the preschool because I didn't want to be the crazy new mum

pfft! it's better to be the crazy new mum that knows where she fits in than the new mum that assumes something and finds out it's all wrong! the child care/preschool deal with these questions all the time, and probably think anyone NOT asking is a little odd...