Parents on Paid Parental Leave not Eligible for B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB)

A recent CTV website article reminds families that the B.C. Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is not available when a parent is taking paid parental leave, unless the parent has a medical condition that prevents them from being able to care for their children.

An October 12, 2023, report by Ben Mijure for CTV news interviewed a couple who had not realized that they would not be able to concurrently claim both ACCB benefits for their older child to attend daycare at the same time as they would be in receipt of paid parental leave after the birth of their second child to be at home with their children. The couple shared their personal story to ensure that other families would be aware and not caught by surprise as they had been.

To qualify for ACCB, the Ministry website at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care-funding/child-care-benefit/qualify specifies that parents must provide one of the following reasons for requiring child care:

  • Working or self-employed

  • Attending school

  • Participating in an employment program

  • Looking for work (only one parent or guardian)

  • Living with a medical condition that interferes with your ability to care for your child

  • Your child is attending licensed preschool

  • You have been referred by a Ministry of Children and Family Development or Delegated Aboriginal Agency social worker.

The ACCG FAQs at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/child-care/running-a-daycare-or-preschool/accb/accb_faq.pdf provide further information for families on:

·      Application

·      Spousal Consent and Information

·      Income Reporting

·      Renewal

·      Missing Information

·      Reporting Changes (*maternity leave/change in marital status)

·      Changing Child Care Providers

·      Technical Support

·      Translation Services

*The information on report maternity leave is on page 9 of the FAQ information sheet:

Reporting Changes

I am on maternity leave, am I still eligible?

No, maternity leave is not an eligible reason for the ACCB. Report your maternity leave to the Child Care Service Centre immediately. You can report this change by sending a message in MyFS or by calling the toll-free number at 1- 888-338-6622.

News & UpdatesJessica Campbell