List of amendments
Unofficial consolidated version of the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme
-- as at 1 April 2026
Below is a list of amendments to the programme, starting with the most recent.
Source | Notes |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2026 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2026 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2026, amends a number of Ministerial Directions and Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018: Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
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Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2025 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 April 2025 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2025, amends the directions in relation to Special Benefit and Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018: Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
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Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Amendment Programme 2024 Gazette notice: Number 2024-sl1950, dated 29 April 2024 Effective date: 3 June 2024 | This instrument, which comes into force on 3 June 2024, amends the Principal Programme to allow for GCAP to be paid for top-up payments charged for eligible children attending approved early childhood education programmes provided by licensed home-based education and care services that are funded under the 20 Hours Early Childhood Education policy. The amendments also clarify that GCAP is not payable for periods where an applicant receiving childcare assistance paid under either the Act or another welfare programme for the same period, or for hours covered by 20 Hours Early Childhood Education funding. However, GCAP must be paid for hours where an eligible child's attendance in approved early childhood education programmes provided by licensed home-based education and care services is funded by 20 Hours Early Childhood Education and top-up payments are required, by educators, for their hours of attendance. This instrument also makes a minor amendment to the criteria in clauses 6(1)(a) and 7(1)(b)(iii) to ensure, where appropriate, assistance is available to temporary Orphan's Benefit or Unsupported Child's Benefit caregivers. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes 2024 Gazette notice: Number 2024-sl844, dated 28 February 2024 Effective date: 1 April 2024 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 April 2024, amends the directions in relation to Special Benefit and Advance Payments of Instalments of Benefit and a number of Ministerial welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 2018: Clause 4 and Schedule 1:
Clause 4 and Schedule 2:
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Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2021 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 July 2021 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 July 2021, amends the specified ministerial directions and welfare programmes under section 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 in response to the removal of the "12 month rule" as facilitated by the Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill which also comes into force on 1 July 2021. The 12 month rule refers to the requirement that in order for a caregiver to be eligible to receive the orphan's benefit or the unsupported child's benefit, they must be likely to be the principal caregiver of the child for at least 1 year from the date of the application for the payment. This instrument also amends the Direction in relation to Special Benefit to exclude allowances payable as a result of receiving the orphan's benefit or unsupported child's benefit from being considered "chargeable income". |
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Amendment 2020 Gazette notice: Effective date: 23 October 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 23 October 2020, amends the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme made under the Social Security Act 1964 and saved by clause 21 of Schedule 1 of the Social Security Act 2018. The amendments are about guaranteed childcare assistance. In particular, clause 11 is amended to ensure that the assistance may continue to be paid during a child's temporary absence, due to COVID-19 requirements, from an early childhood education programme. New clause 11(3) ensures that assistance may continue to be paid for a period during a child's absence from the programme -
The programme is available, as that term is defined in new clause 11(4), if the absence is due to COVID-19 requirements (and so new clause 11(3) applies to the child) and-
New clause 11(3) and 11(4) applies, on and after the commencement, on 23 October 2020, of this amendment, to a child who is eligible for assistance regardless of whether the child became eligible for the assistance-
This instrument also updates references to the Education Act 1989 with the Education and Training Act 2020 |
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Amendment Programme 2019 Gazette notice: Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 January 2020 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 January 2020, amends the Principal Programme to adjust the eligibility criteria for Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payments (GCAP) in respect of children who are five and yet to be enrolled in a school with a cohort entry policy in place. Previously, children attending schools with cohort entry policies started school at the beginning of the term closest to their fifth birthday. From 1 January 2020, under the Education Amendment Act 2019, children can start school on a term start date or mid-term start date which is on or after their fifth birthday. The Ministry of Social Development only pays GCAP until children are first able to start school. |
Instrument amending Ministerial Directions and Welfare Programmes (No 2) 2018 Gazette notice: Effective date: 26 November 2018 | This instrument, which is made under sections 7 and 101 of the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) and regulations 90 and 211 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 and comes into force on 26 November 2018, amends the Ministerial directions and welfare programmes under the Social Security Act 1964 (and saved by Schedule 1 of the Act) that are listed in the Schedule of this instrument in the manner set out in that Schedule. The amendments update references to provisions of the Social Security Act 1964 to equivalent provisions of the Act or the Social Security Regulations 2018 and for changes of language in the Act. It also revokes a spent direction and welfare programme. |
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Amendment 2017 Gazette notice: Effective date: 1 January 2018 | This instrument, which comes into force on 1 January 2018, amends the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme ("Programme") under the Social Security Act 1964 ("Act") to make changes to align the Programme with cohort entry policy changes under the Education Act 1989. The amendment inserts a new definition of cohort entry policy in clause 4 and replaces clause 14. The new clause 14 describes exceptions to eligibility for GCAP by:
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