OSCAR SUBSIDY

 OSCAR SUBSIDY AVAILABLE AT HASCAP

The Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) subsidy provided through Work and Income may help you with the cost of Before / After School Care as well as the cost of school Holiday Programmes. If you are eligible, you can claim up to 20 hours per week for Before / After School Care and up to 50 hours per week for school Holiday Programmes.

WHO CAN GET THE OSCAR SUBSIDY?

You may be able to get an OSCAR Subsidy if:

  • you're the main carer of a dependent child

  • you're a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

  • your family is on a low or middle income.

You also need to be in one of these situations:

  • working, studying or on an approved training course

  • involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do

  • a shift worker who works nights

  • seriously ill or disabled

  • caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Child Disability Allowance for.

You can't get the OSCAR Subsidy if the child's other parent or caregiver can take care of the child. It also depends on how much you and your partner earn.

The child or young person must:

  • normally live in New Zealand

  • be at school

  • be under 14 (or under 18 if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them)

  • be attending an approved OSCAR programme for at least 3 hours a week, which includes:

    • before school

    • after school

    • holiday programmes 

HOW TO APPLY

You should apply at least 3 to 4 weeks before you need your payments to start.

Our HASCAP Team are ‘at the ready’ to discuss eligibility and help with your application.  Alternatively should you wish to manage this yourself, you can download the form HERE.

Childcare and OSCAR Subsidy application (pdf)

  1. Complete the OSCAR Subsidy application form.

  2. We will fill out our part of the form.

  3. You'll need to email the application form, and any other documents Work and Income requires to Centralised_childcare_reviews@msd.govt.nz or you can ask us to send this to Work and Income on your behalf.

If you’re eligible, you will be granted the Childcare Subsidy from the date you first contact MSD, as long as you complete your application within 20 working days of that date.