BC Childcare Funding Guide
Everything BC families and daycare operators need to know about subsidies, fee reductions, and government funding programs.
Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB)
For families — income-tested monthly subsidy
What is ACCB?
The Affordable Child Care Benefit is a monthly subsidy paid directly to your child care provider, reducing what you pay out of pocket. It is income-tested — the lower your family income, the higher the benefit. Families earning up to $111,000 per year may qualify.
Maximum monthly benefit
For families with adjusted income up to $45,000/year (licensed care):
| Child age | Group care | Family care |
|---|---|---|
| Under 19 months | $1,250 | $1,000 |
| 19–36 months | $1,060 | $1,000 |
| 3 years to kindergarten | $550 | $550 |
| School age (K–12) | $415 | $415 |
| Licensed preschool (29mo+) | $225 | — |
Benefits reduce gradually as income increases above $45,000. Families above $111,000 typically do not qualify.
Who qualifies?
- BC resident with a current BC address
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
- Family adjusted income up to $111,000/year
- Qualifying reason: working, self-employed, in school, seeking work, or medical condition
- All family members must provide Social Insurance Numbers
How to apply
- 1Create an account on the My Family Services (MyFS) portal
- 2Complete the ACCB application online (can be saved and resumed within 60 days)
- 3Submit the Child Care Arrangement Form (CF2798), signed by you and your provider
- 4Upload documents: photo ID, proof of citizenship, and proof of need (work schedule, school enrollment, medical form CF2914)
- 5Processing takes approximately 10 business days
You can also apply by phone: 1-888-338-6622 (Option 1) or visit a Service BC location.
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI)
For providers — automatic fee reductions for all families
What is CCFRI?
CCFRI pays child care providers directly so they can lower fees for all families, regardless of income. Parents do not need to apply — the savings are automatic if the centre participates. This is separate from (and stackable with) the ACCB benefit.
Monthly fee reductions (full-time)
| Care category | Group care | Family care |
|---|---|---|
| Infant/Toddler (under 36 mo) | $900 | $600 |
| 3 years to kindergarten | $545 | $500 |
| Kindergarten | $320 | $320 |
| Grade 1 to age 12 | $115 | $145 |
| Preschool | $95 | — |
Part-time reductions are pro-rated at 50% for 4 hours or less daily. Minimum parent fee: $200/month full-time, $140/month part-time.
For parents
You do not need to apply for CCFRI. If your provider participates, fees are automatically reduced. You can check if your provider participates on the BC government website.
Check provider status →For providers — how to enroll
- 1You must receive Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) base funding
- 2Opt in through the My ChildCareBC Services portal during your CCOF application or renewal
- 3Participation is optional and you can opt in at any time during the funding term
- 4Do not reduce fees until you receive written approval from the ministry
- 52026–27 renewals opened in January 2026
$10-a-Day ChildCareBC
What is it?
Designated child care centres where families pay no more than $200/month for full-time care. Low-income families who also receive ACCB may pay as low as $0 per month.
Budget 2026 update
BC Budget 2026 includes a temporary pause on enrolling new providers into the $10-a-Day program and the New Spaces Fund. Families and providers already participating are not affected. The province allocated $330 million over three years to stabilize existing services.
How to find a $10-a-day centre
How programs stack together
Actual amount depends on family income and care type. Families at $10-a-day centres with ACCB may pay $0. The province reports families save an average of $7,200/year per child through ChildCareBC programs.
For daycare operators
Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF)
Base operational funding for licensed providers. Required before you can access CCFRI or ECE Wage Enhancement.
Learn more →ECE Wage Enhancement
Up to $6/hour wage enhancement for ECEs at eligible centres. Centres must participate in CCFRI or operate as a $10-a-day centre.
Learn more →New Spaces Fund
Capital grants for creating new licensed child care spaces. Note: new enrollment is temporarily paused under Budget 2026.
Learn more →Start-Up Grants
Incentive funding for home-based providers to become licensed, covering costs of obtaining a Group Care, Family, or In-Home Multi-Age licence.
Billing built for BC childcare
BrightCare OS helps childcare centres create invoices with ACCB offset line items, track licensed capacity, and give parents clear billing breakdowns — so you can focus on care, not paperwork.
Information sourced from gov.bc.ca as of March 2026. Rates and eligibility may change — always verify with official sources before making financial decisions.
Contact the Child Care Service Centre: 1-888-338-6622