1.1.S.50 Short term hardship (CCB)

Definition

For the purposes of CCB, a recipient is in short term hardship if they cannot pay their child care fees because, as a result of unforeseen circumstances, they have had:

• a substantial fall in income, or
• substantial extra expenses.

Examples: Circumstances that can cause short term hardship include:

• loss of employment,
• failure of a business,
• death or serious illness in the family, causing major:
  • extra expenses, or
  • reduced income, and
• natural disaster or fire, resulting in:
  • the family needing to find somewhere else to live, or
  • extra child care needs.

Examples: Circumstances that are not considered to cause short term hardship include:

• ongoing low income,
• foreseeable expenses such as car or house repairs,
• extra expenses created by choice such as home improvements,
• the birth of a baby, however, if the baby is seriously ill or there are multiple births this may be considered an unforeseen event that causes significant extra expenses.

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Last reviewed: 6 April 2009