OSCAR closures due to COVID-19 requirements

When an OSCAR provider is closed due to COVID-19 requirements, OSCAR Subsidy can continue being paid if the client still qualifies.

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

A provider may close due to COVID-19 requirements because they:

• must close due to COVID-19 Alert Levels 3 or 4
• are connected to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 and have been instructed to close
• are not able to operate safely and within public health guidelines
• temporarily do not have any children needing OSCAR care because of COVID-19.
  Note OSCAR Subsidy cannot continue being paid to a provider that is closed because it is not financially viable for them to stay open, or for any other reason that is not related to COVID-19 requirements

This is not an exhaustive list. If a provider has closed and you are unsure if it is due to COVID-19 requirements, please check the COVID-19 Alert System website for the most up to date COVID-19 guidelines.

Note OSCAR Subsidy cannot continue being paid to a provider that is closed because it is not financially viable for them to stay open, or for any other reason that is not related to COVID-19 requirements.

There is no limit on how long OSCAR Subsidy can be paid when a provider is closed due to COVID-19 requirements. However, the subsidy must only continue for periods that relate to COVID-19 requirements.

If a provider is closed for longer than what is needed due to COVID-19 requirements, OSCAR Subsidy can only be paid for the period that relates to COVID-19 requirements.

Maria's son usually goes to a small, family run OSCAR provider. They had to close for 2 weeks when New Zealand was at COVID-19 Alert Level 3. They then stayed closed for an extra 2 weeks due to a family bereavement.

Maria's OSCAR Subsidy continued for the first 2 weeks the provider was closed because this was due to COVID-19 requirements. OSCAR Subsidy was stopped for the extra 2 weeks because the provider was closed for a reason not related to COVID-19 requirements.