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The Work and Income Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy helps with the costs of before and after-school care, and care during school holiday programmes for school-age children (5-13) years.
The subsidy is part of the Working for Families package which is delivered by Work and Income and Inland Revenue. It pays extra money to many thousands of New Zealand families in a bid to make it easier to work and raise a family.
The OSCAR Subsidy helps towards the costs of before and after school care of up to 20 hours a week, and school holiday programmes of up to 50 hours per week.
Parents/caregivers can get this subsidy if they
 are in paid work (part time, full time, casual or short term) or
work night shifts or
are training or
doing another work-related activity or
are seriously ill or disabled or
have a child with a disability
The amount of assistance parents/caregivers can get depends on the number of children in their family and the amount of income they receive.
You should encourage parents/caregivers to make an appointment with a Work and Income Caseworker to see if they are eligible for the subsidy. The subsidy is paid directly to the OSCAR provider. The programme providing the care must be CYF Approved for OSCAR. When you become CYF Approved for OSCAR, you will be assigned a Work and Income Childcare Coordinator who will contact your programme and let you know what you need to do to enable you to receive the subsidy. They are also available to assist you with your queries and concerns about the Subsidy.
Please note that the Childcare Coordinator works with the Programme, and a Work and Income Caseworker works with the parents.
Under no circumstances will Work and Income pay a subsidy to an OSCAR provider that is not approved.
To find out who you Work and Income Childcare Coordinator is phone 0800 559 009
 Futher information is available on the Work and Income website.
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