A day care centre in Medicine Hat is pictured. CHAT News file photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Province introduces online applications for child care subsidies

Feb 4, 2020 | 2:41 PM

EDMONTON, AB — The provincial government has unveiled a new online application for parents to apply for child care subsidies.

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services, along with Grant Hunter, the Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction, unveiled the application service in Edmonton Tuesday morning.

“The new subsidy system is an innovative step that allows parents to file their application easier and quicker than before through a modern, secure and user-friendly system,” said Schulz in a news release. “This is a common-sense and long overdue change to help parents get the support they need.”

The site will tell parents if the are eligible for the subsidy, and allow them to apply for it using a computer, tablet or smart phone. In the news release, the government says it will reduce paperwork, emails and phone calls, and allow staff to “focus more time on supporting children and families, and less on helping them with paperwork.”

Parents applying will access the service with their MyAlberta Digital ID. Setting up an identification is free, and allow parents to start the application and complete it later.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

10h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner

Dec 06, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

CHAT News producer makes 'emotional' return to Medicine Hat's old arena

Dec 06, 2024

Parents access the service using a MyAlberta Digital ID to ensure their information and personal privacy are safe and secure. MyAlberta Digital ID is a single, verified online identity for interacting with digital government programs and services. Accounts are free and allow parents to start their application and come back to complete it later.

Subsidies are available for families with children under the age of 12 to help cover costs for children enrolled in approved family day homes, a licensed day care program, or a licensed out-of-school care program. A subsidy is also available for families who require care outside of the extended hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The provincial government ended subsidies for stay-at-home parents to cover pre-school costs, along with a subsidy for relatives to help care for children, in January.

The Stay-at-Home Parent Subsidy provided funding for a parent who stayed at home with their children and did not work more than 20 hours per week to help cover pre-school costs. The Kin Care program gave low-and-middle income families a subsidy to help with the costs of having a relative care for their children. The government said those two subsidies were used by less than one per cent of Albertans.

Child care subsidy applications can be found here. https://applychildcaresubsidy.alberta.ca/