Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) in BC: A Complete Guide for Newcomer Families

What Is the Affordable Child Care Benefit?

Child care is one of the largest expenses facing families with young children in British Columbia. For newcomer families who are still settling into life in Canada, these costs can be especially challenging. The Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is a monthly subsidy provided by the Government of British Columbia that goes directly to your licensed child care provider, reducing the amount you pay out of pocket each month.

The ACCB replaced the former Child Care Subsidy in September 2018, and it has been expanded and improved several times since then. Unlike a tax credit that you claim at the end of the year, the ACCB provides real-time monthly relief, making child care more affordable from the moment you start receiving it. If you are a newcomer to Canada and you have children who need child care while you work, study, or attend language training, the ACCB may be one of the most important benefits you can access.

Who Is Eligible for the ACCB?

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Affordable Child Care Benefit in British Columbia, you must meet several criteria. First, you must be a resident of British Columbia. Second, your child must be under the age of 13 (or under 19 if the child has special needs). Third, you must be using a licensed child care provider or a registered licence-not-required child care provider. Fourth, the parent or guardian applying must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or hold a valid temporary resident permit such as a work permit or study permit.

If you have recently arrived in British Columbia as a refugee or protected person, you are eligible for the ACCB. Similarly, if you hold a valid work permit and are employed or seeking employment, you can apply. The benefit is designed to support families who need child care for a qualifying reason, which includes working, looking for work, attending school or a training program, participating in a government employment program, or having a medical condition that prevents you from caring for your child.

Income Thresholds and Family Size

The amount of ACCB you receive depends on your gross family income and the number of children in your family. The benefit is structured so that families with lower incomes receive more support, and the benefit gradually decreases as income rises. As of the most recent guidelines, a family with an income at or below approximately $45,000 per year typically receives the maximum benefit, while families with incomes above approximately $111,000 generally do not receive the ACCB, though these thresholds can vary based on family size and the number of children in care.

The Province of British Columbia uses your most recent Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency to determine your family income. If you are a newcomer who has not yet filed a Canadian tax return, you can submit a statutory declaration of your income since arriving in Canada. This is important because many newcomers worry that they cannot apply without Canadian tax history, but the system accommodates this situation.

How Much Can You Receive?

Benefit Amounts by Care Type

The ACCB benefit amount varies depending on the type of child care your child attends. Licensed group child care for children under 36 months (infant/toddler care) receives the highest maximum benefit because this type of care is the most expensive. Licensed family child care, preschool, out-of-school care, and other care types each have their own maximum benefit rates.

For example, the maximum monthly ACCB for a child in licensed group infant/toddler care can be over $1,500 per month, depending on the provider's fees and your family income. For licensed group care for children aged 3 to 5 (often called 3-to-5 care), the maximum can be over $900 per month. For before-and-after school care, the amounts are lower, reflecting the lower cost of part-day programs. These amounts are paid directly to your child care provider, reducing your monthly bill accordingly.

How to Apply for the ACCB

Step-by-Step Application Process

Applying for the ACCB is straightforward but requires gathering several documents. You can apply online through the BC government child care benefit portal, by mail, or in person at a Service BC location. Here is what you will need:

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and your spouse's or partner's SIN if applicable
• Your most recent Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, or a statutory declaration of income if you have not yet filed Canadian taxes
• Your immigration documents (permanent resident card, work permit, study permit, or refugee protection documents)
• Your child care provider's name, address, and facility licence number
• Information about your reason for needing child care (employment, school, training, medical)

Once you submit your application, the Ministry of Children and Family Development will review it and determine your eligibility and benefit amount. Processing typically takes four to six weeks, though it can vary. If approved, the benefit is paid directly to your child care provider, and you will receive a letter confirming your benefit amount and the period of coverage.

The $10-a-Day Child Care Program and Fee Reduction

How ACCB Works with $10-a-Day Sites

British Columbia has been expanding its $10-a-Day ChildCareBC program, which caps parent fees at $200 per month (roughly $10 per day) at participating centres. If your child attends a $10-a-Day site, your parent fees are already significantly reduced. However, you can still apply for the ACCB on top of the $10-a-Day fee reduction. In many cases, families at $10-a-Day sites who also qualify for the ACCB end up paying little to nothing for child care.

In addition to $10-a-Day sites, the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia have been working together under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to reduce fees at all licensed child care facilities across the province. Under this initiative, known as the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI), participating providers receive direct government funding that allows them to lower their parent fees. The ACCB is then applied on top of the already-reduced fees, which means that the combination of CCFRI and ACCB can make child care remarkably affordable for eligible families.

Understanding the Layers of Support

Think of the child care affordability system in BC as having multiple layers. The first layer is the CCFRI, which reduces the base fees at participating providers. The second layer is the ACCB, which provides an additional income-tested subsidy on top of the reduced fees. The third layer, for families at $10-a-Day sites, is the further fee cap. And for families who still face financial difficulty, there may be additional supports available through the Canada Child Benefit, which is a federal monthly payment to families with children.

For newcomer families, this layered system can mean that child care, which might otherwise cost $1,000 to $1,800 per month, could be reduced to a few hundred dollars or even zero. The key is to make sure you apply for every benefit you are entitled to, starting with the ACCB and the Canada Child Benefit.

Special Circumstances for Newcomers

No Canadian Tax History

One of the most common concerns newcomer families have is that they do not yet have a Canadian tax return or Notice of Assessment. The ACCB application process accounts for this. If you have been in Canada for less than a year and have not yet filed a tax return, you can complete a statutory declaration of your income since arriving. This declaration is used in place of a Notice of Assessment to determine your benefit amount. You can obtain a statutory declaration form from a Service BC office or from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Changing Circumstances

If your family situation changes after you have been approved for the ACCB, you are required to notify the Ministry. Changes that affect your benefit include a change in income, a change in family size, a change in child care provider, or a change in the reason you need child care. If your income decreases, you may be eligible for a higher benefit. If your income increases significantly, your benefit may be reduced. It is important to report changes promptly to avoid overpayments that you may be required to repay.

Finding Licensed Child Care in BC

Finding quality, licensed child care can be one of the biggest challenges for families in British Columbia, especially in urban areas like Vancouver, Surrey, and Victoria where waitlists are common. The Province maintains a searchable database of licensed child care providers through the regional health authorities. You can also contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre for help finding available spaces in your area.

When evaluating child care options, consider the type of care (group centre, family child care, or in-home care), the hours of operation, the location relative to your home or workplace, the staff-to-child ratios, and whether the facility participates in the CCFRI and the $10-a-Day program. If you are a newcomer, you may also want to ask whether the provider has experience working with multicultural families and whether staff speak your language.

Other Child Care and Family Benefits to Know About

Beyond the ACCB, there are several other benefits and supports that newcomer families should be aware of. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides monthly tax-free payments to eligible families with children under 18. The BC Family Benefit is a provincial benefit that provides additional monthly payments. The BC housing supports can help if you are struggling with housing costs. The Medical Services Plan ensures your family has health coverage. And our healthcare guide explains how to access medical care for your children.

Getting Help with Your Application

If you need help applying for the ACCB or understanding your eligibility, there are several resources available. WelcomeAide can help answer your questions about child care benefits and connect you with local settlement services. You can also contact the Ministry of Children and Family Development by phone, or visit a Service BC location for in-person assistance. Many settlement agencies across BC also provide free help with benefit applications as part of their newcomer support services.

Our AI Newcomer Navigator is available to answer your questions about child care subsidies, the ACCB application process, and other settlement topics in your language. Explore our blog for more newcomer guides, learn about our mission, or see how to get involved in supporting newcomer communities across Canada.