Child's caregiver also cares for a child in hospital - OSCAR

OSCAR Subsidy may be paid for up to 20 hours a week during term time and 50 hours a week during the school holidays where the eligible child has a sibling who has been admitted to hospital.

There are extra pressures on caregivers when a child is admitted to hospital. It is usually difficult for the caregiver to arrange childcare for other children so that the caregiver can visit the child in hospital.

This is why up to 20 or 50 hours OSCAR Subsidy may be granted in respect of other children in these situations, regardless of how many hours the caregiver spends visiting the hospital.

Note the client and their partner (if any) do not need a good and sufficient reason why they are not able to care for the eligible child.

The subsidy will stop when:

• the hospitalised child is discharged or
• the dependent child turns 14 and Child Disability Allowance is not paid for them or
• Child Disability Allowance is paid for the child and the child:
  • turns 18 and is not continuing in education or is no longer financially dependent or
  • is 18 and:
    • they are no longer enrolled in school or tertiary education or
    • they are no longer attending school or tertiary education as required or
    • they are financially independent or
    • they leave the parent or caregiver's care or
    • it is later than 31 December of the year they turned 18 or
• the qualifications are no longer met

whichever is earliest.

A letter from the hospital social worker or the treating hospital doctor should be requested verifying that the child has been or will be admitted to hospital.

This letter should show the:

• date of admission and
• expected date of discharge