Single client shares care of dependent child

The higher rate of the Winter Energy Payment can only be paid to the principal caregiver when single clients share the care of a child.

To be considered the principal caregiver of the child the client must have the primary responsibility for the day to day care of the child, not on a temporary basis.

The client is considered the principal caregiver (and receives the higher rate of the Winter Energy Payment) when:

• they have the child included in their benefit (this suggests a decision has already been made that they are a principal caregiver for the purposes of benefit eligibility) or
• they are receiving Childcare Assistance payments for the child, even if they look after the child an equal number of days, (a decision has already been made that they are the principal caregiver for them to receive Childcare Assistance)