Processing Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (grandparent) applications 007-17103156

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To help explain CCS and ACCS start dates to customers.

OS035B - Centrelink Calendar - 2022-2025

OS035A - Centrelink Calendar - 2026-2029

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Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers

Contact details

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser

ACCS (grandparent) letters

Q888 - Request for information – CCS and Additional CCS

Examples of principal carer and autonomy of decision making for ACCS (grandparent)

Example	Description
1	Caring for children due to parent's commitments Tania is on an income support payment and looks after grandchild Jackson 5 days a week, while Jackson's parents Martha and Ben are at work. Each week day, Martha drops off and picks up Jackson from Tania's house. As Martha and Robert retain all legal and financial responsibility for Jackson, Tania is not eligible for ACCS (grandparent) because Tania does not have substantial autonomy for the day to day decisions about Jackson's care and wellbeing.
2	Primary carer and autonomy of decision making Ann is on income support and lives with Krystal, Ann's child, Krystal's partner Michael and their child, Joshua. Both Krystal and Michael have intellectual disabilities and Joshua has been diagnosed with 'failure to thrive'. As a result, Ann has been identified as Joshua's legal guardian and also manages Krystal and Michael's income support payment on their behalf. In this case, Ann would meet the criteria for ACCS (grandparent) as Ann is the grandparent of Joshua, is the primary carer and has substantial autonomy about decisions for Joshua as the appointed the legal guardian.
3	Grandparent lives with parent and child Christine is on income support and lives with adult child Jade, and grandchild Sienna. There are often times where Christine looks after Sienna after school when Jade is at work, but Jade is responsible for the day -to-day decisions about Sienna. While Christine resides at the same address as Jade and Sienna, Christine does not have a court order listing Christine as the legal guardian, and therefore cannot be considered principal carer of Sienna. In this case, Christine would not be eligible for ACCS (grandparent) because Christine does not have the primary care of the child or the responsible for making day-to-day decisions about Sienna's care and wellbeing.
4	Shared care arrangements Marion and Damien share the care of their grandchild with their child, Justin. Marion and Damien take care of their grandchild five nights a week the child returns to Justin for the weekend. This arrangement is formalised in a court order and is in place until the child turns 18 years old. Marion or Damien would meet the definition of grandparent for ACCS (grandparent) for as long as: this court order is in place the child attends approved child care, and Marion or Damien remain on an income support payment
5	Differing care arrangements Jan is on income support and is the grandparent of Clare and Ben, Jan is responsible for paying their child care fees when they are in Jan's care. Jan cares for Clare 6 days a week and makes the decisions about Clare's care. Jan also cares for Ben 6 days a week but has to check with Ben's parent(s) before making decisions about Ben's care. Jan would meet the definition of grandparent for ACCS (grandparent) for Clare, but would only be eligible for CCS for Ben.
6	Grandparent caring during shift work John is an income support recipient who lives with child Jacob, who is a shift worker, and grandchild Charlotte. Charlotte attends after school care, and John cares for Charlotte overnight while Jacob is at work. If anything serious happens to Charlotte while Jacob is at work, John calls Jacob. Therefore, John is not Charlotte's principal carer so John is not eligible for ACCS (grandparent) in relation to Charlotte's after school care.
7	Temporary care with no autonomy of decision making Elizabeth and Phillip are going on an overseas holiday for four weeks and are leaving Harry in the care of Harry's maternal grandparent, Charlotte (who receives an income support payment). Harry's parents retain full authority for making decisions about Harry while they are overseas. Charlotte is not eligible for ACCS (grandparent).
8	Change in care arrangements Roger and Glenda look after their grandchild (Alex) while Chris is serving a custodial sentence. The grandparents meet all the eligibility requirements. Chris is released on probation and Alex returns to Chris' care. Roger and Glenda are no longer the principal carers. Chris breaches probation a month later and returns to prison. Alex returns to the care of Roger and Glenda. While not eligible for ACCS (grandparent) while Alex is living with Chris, Roger and Glenda's ACCS (grandparent) are eligible when Alex is living with them. Each of these different periods will be managed through change of circumstances arrangements.
9	Child in formal foster care Jacob has recently entered care of grandparent, Edith, who lodges an application for ACCS (grandparent). Edith submits a letter which advises that Jacob is in the care and parental responsibility of the minster until the age of 18 with Edith listed as Jacob’s carer. As Edith is listed as the sole carer, that is, there are no other carers listed indicating shared care, there is enough information to demonstrate at least 65% care and autonomy of care. Edith will need to provide further evidence to verify the grandparent relationship.