How to apply for BC's Affordable Child Care Benefit

4 min read · facts checked Oct 19, 2026

The Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) is a monthly payment from the province that helps eligible families with child care costs. It works on top of fee reduction, so many families get both. Details below come from the province's ACCB pages as of October 2026.

Who qualifies

• A parent or guardian with a current BC address who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, Convention refugee or protected person.
• A reason for care: work or self-employment, school, an employment program, job searching (one parent), a medical condition, a licensed preschool program, or care arranged by a social worker. Maternity or parental leave doesn't count.
• Income: families earning up to $111,000 may qualify. The full benefit applies up to an adjusted income of $45,000 for licensed care, with partial benefits above that (eligibility).
• Adjusted income is lowered by $2,000 for each family member after the first two, and $3,000 for each child with support needs.

How to apply

1. Check what you might get with the province's online estimator.
2. Find care first, or at least know where your child will go. The application asks about your provider.
3. Apply online through My Family Services, or by mail or fax using the forms on the ACCB page.
4. Include every supporting document it asks for. The province says applications missing documents take much longer.
5. Renew every year, and whenever your reason for care changes.

Tip: Processing can take weeks. Apply as soon as you have a start date rather than waiting for your first bill.

What doesn't qualify

Most child care is eligible, but not care by a family member who lives with you, licensed occasional or drop-in care, or recreational care.

Questions? The Child Care Service Centre answers at 1-888-338-6622 (option 1), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with interpreters in over 140 languages.