COVID-19 absences and closures

When a child is absent from childcare or the childcare centre is closed due to COVID-19 requirements, Childcare Subsidy can continue being paid if the client still qualifies.

A fee does not have to be charged to hold the child's place open for payment to continue.

COVID-19 requirements means New Zealand's COVID-19 Alert System. The alert system is designed to manage and minimise the risk of COVID-19.

There are 4 alert levels and each one sets out the public health and social measures we must take. For example, at Alert Level 3 people generally need to stay home except for essential activities like grocery shopping.

Each alert level places restrictions on things like travel, business activity and personal movement. Alert levels can apply to the whole country, or to parts of it. Different areas of New Zealand may be at different alert levels at the same time.

COVID-19 requirements can affect childcare in a number of ways.

Children may need to be absent because they are unwell, connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, or are at high risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19.

Centres may need to close because they are unable to operate within public health guidelines, they are connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, or an Alert Level 4 lockdown is in place.

An absence or closure due to COVID-19 requirements means that a child is absent, or a centre is closed because it is required by the COVID-19 Alert System guidelines.

Generally verification about the reason for an absence or closure due to COVID-19 requirements is not required. However if you have doubts about the situation, you can ask the client or centre for verification.

The client must continue to qualify for Childcare Subsidy for it to be paid during an absence or closure due to COVID-19 requirements.

If the client has a change in circumstances that affects their eligibility, their Childcare Subsidy must be reviewed. If they no longer qualify, Childcare Subsidy must be stopped.

Katie has been getting Childcare Subsidy of 25 hours per week because her son attends childcare while she works. 20 hours are for the time Katie is at work and 5 hours are for the time she spends travelling between work and the centre. During Alert Level 3 Katie worked from home but her work hours stayed the same. Her son did not go to childcare because Katie's mum looked after him. Katie's Childcare Subsidy continued during her son's absence, but it reduced to 20 hours per week because she did not need to travel between work and the centre.

Katie has now lost her job and her last day will be this Friday. She intends to send her son back to childcare at Alert Level 2. Katie's Childcare Subsidy will be reduced to 9 hours per week because she is no longer engaged in an approved activity.