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This section contains one topic that explains the SCCB eligibility criteria. These are circumstances under which a higher rate of CCB can be granted to either:
This section covers:
The following table shows the circumstances under which SCCB is available and who can apply for it in those circumstances.
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If… |
SCCB is available to… |
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at the time of care, a service believes a child is at risk of: - serious abuse, or - neglect, |
- the individual, or - an approved service, if the individual is not eligible. Explanation: The service makes itself eligible and pays SCCB to itself. |
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an individual: - has care of a child immediately before the care is provided, and - is experiencing short term hardship (1.1.S.50), |
the individual. |
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an individual ceases to receive income support payments, |
the individual. Explanation: This payment will be made under the SCCB hardship provisions. The individual is eligible for an initial period of 3 weeks. |
In the case of an approved service applying, it must make a determination in writing, stating the:
Note: SCCB is not available to an individual who has been on a 12-week employment income nil rate period immediately before their social security pension or benefit is cancelled.
A service can approve SCCB for amounts up to and equalling an individual's total weekly child care fees.
A service cannot approve SCCB for any one event, across all services, for more than 13 weeks in any financial year. Approval must be sought from the FAO for any periods of SCCB additional to the initial 13 weeks. Only the FAO can approve additional 13 week periods. In respect of one hardship event the service and FAO approvals combined may not exceed 52 weeks. Access to SCCB in cases of individual hardship is usually not approved for more than 13 weeks, for any one hardship event. If the problem continues into the following financial year, an approved service cannot approve a further period of 13 weeks for the same event. Only the FAO can approve an extension of the 13-week period.
If a service not yet operating under the CCMS wishes to make itself eligible for SCCB because nobody else is eligible to receive CCB, approval must be sought from the FAO in all circumstances.
Where a service has commenced operating under CCMS and has made itself eligible for SCCB for a child at risk because nobody else is eligible to receive CCB, DEEWR must be notified when the service makes itself eligible and any periods of SCCB additional to the initial 13 weeks must also be approved by DEEWR.
The cost of the SCCB periods a service has already approved should not exceed 18% of total fee reductions in the acquitted statement (1.1.S.120) for the statement period before last. A service cannot access SCCB at the same time as CCB.
Act reference: FAAct section 52 Limit on eligibility for child care benefit relating to hours, section 53 Weekly limit of hours, section 54 Circumstances when a limit of 50 hours applies, section 55 Circumstances when a limit of more than 50 hours applies, section 76 to section 85 SCCB Rate of fee reductions and child care benefit if care provided by an approved child care service and child is at risk or individual is in hardship
Policy reference: FA Guide 2.6.3.20 Eligibility Requirements for More than 50 Hours CCB
SS Guide 3.1.12 Employment Income Nil Rate Period
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Last reviewed: 3 January 2012
