Children’s Services
Wait List Information Update
Background
On January 1, 2007, the City of London implemented the new
Provincial Income Test to determine eligibility for the Child Care Fee Subsidy
Program. Since that time, the demand in London for fee subsidies has increased
substantially and this demand has put significant financial pressure on the
child care fee subsidy funding envelope. For the City to continue to operate
within the available funding, a wait list was started on September 1, 2007.
The Children's Services Fee Subsidy office would like to let you know of some
policy changes that may affect you and your child. Currently, there are
over 400 children on the waiting list for fee subsidy. Our office has been
reviewing our policies and business practices to gain savings where possible,
knowing that any savings we can get will allow more children on the subsidy
waiting list to go to child care so their parents can work or attend school.
Our office has reviewed the current waitlist priorities and their impact.
As of January 1, 2012, the Wait list Priority System is changing:
i. There will be 2 priorities
1. Under LICO (Low Income Cut Off)
2. Over LICO (Low Income Cut Off)
ii. LICO is a measure developed by Statistics Canada that determines at what
income level
which a family will spend a larger share on their income to the necessities of
food, shelter
and clothing than an average family of the same size.
iii.
LICO is specific for each community and the income levels are reviewed each year
by
Statistics Canada. London/Middlesex has its own LICO numbers.
iv. LICO looks at number of people in the family.
1. For Fee Subsidy purposes, family is defined as:
2.All children under the age of 19 years living in the home. On the 19th
birthday, the
child is considered an adult.
3. Legally married or common law relationships, including a person(s) with legal
custody of a
child(ren) or the intention to treat a child(ren) as a child of their own.
Why change:
The new priorities are more inclusive because they take into account family
composition.
The updated approach should help many families with incomes greater than $20,000
access fee subsidy.
2) Finding out if you are Priority 1or 2 (Guideline only):
a. For the adults applying for subsidy
i. Add together the Line 236 of the most recent Revenue Canada Notice of
Assessment
(NOA) or the Canadian Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) for each adult in the family.
b. Number of people in your family:
| 2010 |
LOW INCOME CUT OFF |
| FAMILY SIZE |
AFTER TAX INCOME |
| 2 PERSONS |
$19,308 |
| 3 PERSONS |
$24,043 |
| 4 PERSONS |
$29,996 |
| 5 PERSONS |
$34,157 |
| 6 PERSONS |
$37,881 |
| 7 OR MORE PERSONS |
$41,604 |
Determine how many people are in your family, then look at the total for the NOA.
• If your NOA totals are less than the number in the right column, you could be
a priority 1.
• If NOA totals are more than the number in the right column, you could be a
priority 2.
Example:
1) David has 3 children and is a single parent. His line 236 on his 2010 NOA
says $26,000. There
are 4 people in his family (David plus his three children) and his income is
less than $29,996.
David's children are a priority 1(Under LICO) on the fee subsidy waiting list.
2) Pat and Chris have been living together for 2 years. Chris has a child from a
prior
relationship and Pat has a child from a prior relationship. Chris and Pat have a
child together.
There are 5 people in the family. Since Pat and Chris have a child together they
are considered an
intact family with the intention of treating each other's child and their own
child as a family.
Pat AND Chris (BOTH) need to submit their Revenue Canada Notice of Assessments.
The total for both
of the NOAs is $36, 789. Pat and Chris's children are a Priority 2 (Over LICO)
on the fee subsidy
waiting list.
Child Care Fee Subsidy Wait List - Questions and Answers (Qs and As)
Q. What is the Fee Subsidy Program and who does it
serve?
A. Fee Subsidy is a program that is intended to assist eligible families with the
cost of their child care expenses. It supports eligible families by paying a
portion of their total licensed child care costs, as funding permits.
Q. Why is there a Wait List for Fee Subsidy?
A. There has been an increased demand for Fee Subsidy combined with a lack of
sufficient funding to meet this increased demand.
Q. When can I expect to receive Fee Subsidy?
A. The Fee Subsidy program is a provincially mandated program with capped funding
and currently, the funding that we receive does not meet the demand for Fee
Subsidy. This has created the need for a wait list. Due to the increased demand
and limited funding for this program, wait list priorities have been developed
by community stakeholders and approved by London’s Municipal Council.
If and when funds become available, families will become eligible for Fee
Subsidy in the following priority order, on a first-come, first-served basis:
WAIT LIST PRIORITIES as approved by City of London Council:
Within the approved annual budget for the child care fee subsidy program,
eligible child(ren) on the wait list will be considered for approval by priority
and date of eligibility.
There will be 2 priorities
1. Under LICO (Low Income Cut Off)
2. Over LICO (Low Income Cut Off)
Q. I don’t like this situation. How do I change this and what can be done to
speed up my eligibility for Fee Subsidy assistance?
A. We operate under a provincially mandated program with capped funding and
currently, the funding that we receive does not meet the demand for the program.
We have made our concerns about this funding gap known to our Members of
Parliament, however it doesn’t appear that this issue is a federal government
priority at this time. We have no way of knowing at this time if or when funds
will be available to place your child(ren) into subsidized child care.
If your child falls under one of the lower priorities on the wait list (i.e. #4,
or #5) you are unlikely to receive fee subsidy in the near future.
Your eligibility for Fee Subsidy funding is based upon available funding
combined with your priority placement on the above list. If your need for child
care is immediate, it is suggested that you investigate other options at this
time. Also, please be reminded that if you are eligible in future, your Fee
Subsidy will begin on the day that we contact you. It will not be backdated to
the date that we first received your application.
Q. I cannot afford the cost of licensed child care. What can I do?
A. Other options you might wish to consider are:
• Unlicensed child care arrangements (example, a trusted family member, friend
or neighbour);
• Ontario Early Years Centres provides a listing of home care providers in the
community. (call Childreach at 519-434-3644 for more information)
• For sole support parents – Is your child’s other parent able to help pay for
the costs of your child’s child care?
• Ontario Early Years Centres offer no-cost and low-cost programming for
children and parents which you or your designated child care provider may be
able to access (go to
www.ontarioearlyyears.ca
or call 1-866-821-7770); and
• You may pick up a Community Resource Package for London Fee Subsidy Families
from our office at 151 Dundas St. London (4th Floor) N6A 4L6.
How can I find out more about child care in London?
For information on types of available child care as well where to find licensed child care in London, please go to
www.familyinfo.ca select "Search by Category" and then select "Child Care." From there, select "Download the Family Info Child Care in London" brochure. This brochure features a numbered map that makes it easy to search for child care locations in areas that work best for parents, either near their homes or on their routes to work.
Other sites to visit for valuable information are:
www.info.london.on.ca
www.healthunit.com
www.londonpubliclibrary.ca
www.thehealthline.ca
www.tvdsb.ca
www.ldcsb.on.ca
www.heartandstroke.ca/spark
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the fee subsidy program for?
How much will my child care cost?
Where can I get an application form?
What happens next?
Who should you contact regarding submitting the form and photocopied documents?
How long does it take to get an application reviewed to see if you are eligible?
What if I do not agree with the decision of ineligibility?
What changes have been made to the criteria for approval?
Okay, I qualify...now what?
What if my circumstances change?
Where can I find additional contacts and resources?
Print an information brochure at home
How can I find out more about child care in London?
You may be eligible for child care fee subsidy if:
- You have one or more children aged 0-12 years
- You live in the city of London
- You are currently employed
- You are attending an educational institution or have recently started a training program or training course
- You are the parent or have a child with special needs
- You have been ill, experiencing stress in the family or other similar circumstance
- Your child's doctor or another professional is recommending licensed child care
Everyone's circumstances will be different. Filling out an application form is the easiest way to find out if you qualify for fee subsidy.
This depends on your financial circumstances. You may only have to pay a percentage of your total child care costs.
Fee Subsidy application forms can be
obtained in many different ways including:
- Click
here
for a pdf* version of the application
- Phone the Children's Services office at 519-661-4834 and an application will be mailed to you
- and an application form will be mailed to you
-
Applications are available at any licensed child centre or organization under a purchase of service agreement with the City. Call or visit your licensed child care centre/organization of choice and ask for a fee subsidy application
- Pick up an application in person from the City of London Children's Services office at 151 Dundas Street, 4th floor in London. (S/W corner of Dundas Street and Richmond Street)
You fill in the application form.
You will need to provide photocopies of all the documents asked for in the application and a copy of any referral form you may have.
If you are attending school, you will need to provide a copy of your enrollment form.
Who should you contact regarding
submitting the form and photocopied documents?
The completed fee subsidy application form and photocopies of requested information may be:
- dropped off in person to the Children's Services office at 151 Dundas Street (S/W corner of Dundas Street and Richmond Street)
- faxed to 519 661-5821
- or mailed to the following address:
|
Children'sServices |
|
City of London |
|
P.O Box 5045 |
|
151 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London ON N6A 4L6 |
- A child care application is initially reviewed on a first come, first served
basis by the Child Care Community Support Associate assigned the application.
- An applicant will be contacted by telephone and in writing for any missing documentation.
-
If an applicant were determined to be eligible, the Community Support
Associate would place the eligible child's name onto the wait list. Should
exits and funding permit the child to be removed from the wait list and given
fee subsidy, the family would be contacted by the Community Support Associate to
review their current eligibility and, if applicable, an in-office appointment
would be scheduled.
- If an applicant were determined to be ineligible for Child Care Subsidy, the Community Support Associate will contact the applicant by telephone and also provide the decision in writing.
Every applicant has the ability to appeal an ineligibility decision. The Manager, Child Care Fee Subsidy considers every written appeal, reviews and reassesses the original application and any new information submitted to the Child Care office.
All appeal decisions, whether to overturn or support the original decision are explained to the applicant by telephone and provided in writing.
Effective January 1, 2007, Income Testing will be used to determine eligibility for fee subsidy. Eligibility for child care subsidy will be based on income only. The only documents that are allowed to determine income testing are the
most recent taxation year of the Federal Notice of Assessment, the Canadian Child Tax Benefit Notice,
the Ontario Child Benefit Notice and the RC143E Income Tax Return Option C.
Eligibility will continue to be based on the income of either one or both parents, depending on the family situation like single, separated and married parents.
Each parent/guardian must be working or going to school.
You and your spouse/partner, if applicable, must file your Income Tax annually in order to apply, be eligible and to maintain your child care subsidy.
You need to choose a licensed child care centre or private in-home care provider affiliated with a licensed agency that has a purchase of service agreement with the City of London and best suits the needs of your family.
Make the arrangements for your child and let us know. We will take care of the rest. The Child Care office will send the fee subsidy payments directly to the centre.
If at anytime your situation changes, like moving to a new address, have a
new child or a change in martial status, you must contact your Community Support Associate to let them know.
Telephone: 519 661-4834
Click
here for an application*
Community Services Department
Neighbourhood and Children's Services
151 Dundas Street, 4th Floor
London, Ontario N6A 4L6
Manager and Community Support Associates:
Michele Reid
Manager, Fee Subsidy
519-661-2500 ext. 4794 |
|
Georgiana Battersby
519-661-2500 ext. 2732 |
Paula Nikou
519-661-2500 ext. 5453 |
Emily DiLoreto
519-661-2500 ext.4832 |
Debbie Norley
519-661-2500 ext. 5465 |
Diane Gelderland
519-661-2500 ext.5921 |
Brenda Northup
519-661-2500 ext. 2728 |
Patty Joudrey
519-661-2500 ext.5371 |
Laurie Stone
519-661-2500 ext.5519 |
Jennifer Campbell
519-661-2500 ext. 5919 |
Tracey Turner
519-661-2500 ext.4619 |
Carolyn Mitchell
519-661-2500 ext. 5518 |
|
