Childcare Benefit information you need to understand.FAO, the Family Assistance Office, is a joint venture between Centrelink, the Australian Tax Office and the Health Insurance Commission (Medicare). FAO will administer CCB (Child Care Benefit) on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Service.
CCB is replacing both Commonwealth Childcare Assistance and Medicare Cash Rebate for every family regardless of their income means test. i.e. Every Australian family will be entitled to and will get either fee reduction or tax return adjustment on their Child Care usage if and when they use an approved Child Care Service.
Under CCB system, families have certain responsibilities to fulfil as well as the Approved Child Care Services.
All Families using the Centre and or any other approved service of childcare service MUST contact FAO regardless the family taxable income. Families should submit to the FAO the required information preferably before enrolment at the Centre, and nominating the Centre as the chosen Centre to provide the child care service.
FAO will inform both the family and the Centre with the family eligibility, the percentage of assistance for every child in the family.
Every family using approved childcare service must have CRN Customer Reference Number, as well as every child in the family should have childcare reference number (CRN), this information will be on the letter sent to both the family and the Centre. If you do not submit one to the Centre, the Centre has to submit the information on the enrolment form to the FAO.
There will be accountability of days absent and the onus is on parents to provide the reason in writing and signing for the absence on the weekly attendance sheet, in the right column (there is a form to be filled by the family every three month for that purpose). The FAO will be dealing directly with parents and crediting or debiting them on any anomaly in relation to CCB at the end of every financial year with the family's tax return.
Fees are payable on absent, and sick days, once the allowable absent days are used full fees are payable.
There are 30 allowable absence days. For legitimate reasons such as sickness, a clearly written and signed Doctor certificate, or signed parent statement of explanation is required. If nothing is submitted to the Centre, the absence will be counted as un allowable absence i.e. With no reason given, as a result the number of days of allowable absent are reduced.
It is every family's responsibility to keep FAO informed of every change in their situation.
