Work & Income (WINZ) OSCAR Subsidies Available!
Kids Inc are an OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) approved provider, which means if you’re eligible, you can receive an OSCAR subsidy to help with the cost of Before School Care, After School Care and School Holiday Programmes.
The maximum subsidies are:
The very first step is to check eligibility
Before you follow the process below, you need to FIRST check you are eligible to receive the subsidy. To do this, please contact WINZ on 0800 559 009 or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz
The maximum subsidies are:
- Up to 20 hours a week during the Term, per child
- Up to 50 hours a week during School Holidays, per child
The very first step is to check eligibility
Before you follow the process below, you need to FIRST check you are eligible to receive the subsidy. To do this, please contact WINZ on 0800 559 009 or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz
The Process
Here at Kids Inc, we’re all about making parents and caregivers life’s easier…we’re quite unique in the industry as we help you through the process and take a lot of the pain points away for you.
Follow the steps below to ensure your application is processed efficiently.
Follow the steps below to ensure your application is processed efficiently.
Step 1: Get Yourself an Application Form
You can do this a number of ways:
You can complete your part of the application process online with Work & Income
OR
Please note: You will require a Full application if you have never applied for a subsidy before or it has been over 10 weeks since you were last entitled or had a subsidy.
Parents who only require care during the School Holiday Programme do not need to fill out a Full application form each holiday, they can use the white WINZ generated form sent out to them prior to each school holidays or they can collect an Oscar Declaration Form from the Kids Inc Oscar site at Brookfield School, print one off our website or call into Work and Income New Zealand.
Parents studying can use these forms too.
You can complete your part of the application process online with Work & Income
OR
- Collect an application form from us at Brookfield School
- Print off a copy here
- Collect from a WINZ office
Please note: You will require a Full application if you have never applied for a subsidy before or it has been over 10 weeks since you were last entitled or had a subsidy.
Parents who only require care during the School Holiday Programme do not need to fill out a Full application form each holiday, they can use the white WINZ generated form sent out to them prior to each school holidays or they can collect an Oscar Declaration Form from the Kids Inc Oscar site at Brookfield School, print one off our website or call into Work and Income New Zealand.
Parents studying can use these forms too.
Step 2: Complete the Application Form
Make sure you fill out all the relevant sections in the application with your information.
Remember to sign and date the form.
Remember to sign and date the form.
Step 3: Supply Supporting Documentation with your Application
You must attach the following supporting documentation with your application form:
Depending on your situation, you may need to also include:
- Proof of identity - this can be a drivers licence, passport or birth certificate
- A form or letter from IRD showing your tax number
- Full birth certificates for each dependent child in your care
- Proof of your wages or salary. For example, payslips, a letter from your employer.
- Your full set of business accounts, if you have your own business
Depending on your situation, you may need to also include:
- Your marriage or civil union certificate, for a current relationship
- Proof of any other before-tax income for the last 52 weeks. For example, interest, child support or rental income
Step 4: Bring your Application Form to Us at Kids Inc
We will then fill out our part on the application, hours required, and fees. If you have Supporting documents to provide with your Application, we suggest you drop them all into a Work & Income office. We can email the Application form & proof of Income only to WINZ, if you would like us to do this, but other supporting documents will need to be taken directly into a WINZ office.
Please note: If supporting documentation is not supplied or some documents are waiting to be received, this may delay your subsidy starting or may result in your application being declined.
Please note: If supporting documentation is not supplied or some documents are waiting to be received, this may delay your subsidy starting or may result in your application being declined.
Step 5: Application is Processed
Processing of WINZ applications can take between 2-4 weeks. If your subsidy entitlement is less than was estimated, you must pay the difference.
Please note: If you are not working or studying or entitled to Respite care, you will not be entitled to a Childcare subsidy.
Childcare subsidies are based on your income plus the hours you work each week and travel time to and from work and your lunch breaks.
- For the before school and after school care, the maximum subsidy available is 20 hours a week.
- For the School holiday programme, the maximum subsidy available is 50 hours a week.
For example, if you work 10 hours, your lunch break is 1 hr each day and your travel time is half an hour each day (there and back), you would be entitled to 10 hrs + 5 hrs + 2.5 = 17.5 hours.
For example, if you work 40 hours a week, your lunch break is 30 minutes each day and your travel is 1 hour each day (there and back), you would be entitled to 40 hrs + 2.5 + 5hrs = 47.5 hours.
Childcare hourly rates are determined by your income and the hours you work.
