What is a Service Special CCB enrolment used for?
This enrolment is used where no one is eligible to receive CCB by fee reduction or they have not yet been assessed for CCB eligibility and the child is at risk of serious abuse or neglect. The service completes the application form and faxes it to the CCMS Helpdesk. Refer to the Child Care Service Handbook (Chapter 14.4) for more information.
CRNs are not required to create this enrolment type.
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A child at your service is currently in the care of its mother but unfortunately due to mum’s alcohol and drug use the child has been in and out of foster care. The child would benefit from attending extra hours in care but mum has not contacted the FAO and cost is a barrier.
You assist the family by approving a Service SCCB claim until the mother has made a claim and become assessed by the FAO for CCB. This allows you to respond immediately and care for a child who would otherwise be prevented from attending care.
You complete the form “Application for SCCB for a child at risk when no one is receiving CCB” (DEEWR 08-311) and fax it to the CCMS Helpdesk on 1300 663 429.
Once mum has contacted the FAO and is eligible for CCB the SCCB when no one is receiving CCB claim can end and a SCCB claim for an individual conditionally eligible for CCB can be used if still required. |
If a child is at risk of serious abuse or neglect and the parent is eligible for CCB, do I ask the parent to sign the form?
Family assistance law provides for services to approve up to 13 weeks of SCCB per child in a financial year. Further periods of SCCB must be approved by the Family Assistance Office.
The parent/guardian is not required to complete or sign the form or supply any documentation when the child is at risk of abuse or neglect.
Can I backdate SCCB for a child at risk?
As SCCB is given to facilitate the inclusion of a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect into child care, you should give careful consideration to the appropriateness of backdating of SCCB. You should outline the reason for backdating in your claim form.
Backdating may be appropriate when you have provided care to a child at risk prior to:
- completing the certificate of rate/hours section of the Claim for Special Child Care Benefit and/or increased eligible hours (FA023.0907) form.
- receiving approval from the FAO for a further period of SCCB.
- completing the Application for Special Child Care Benefit for a child at risk when no one is receiving Child Care Benefit (DEEWR 08-311) form.
- receiving approval from DEEWR for SCCB when no one is conditionally eligible for CCB.
What is the 18 per cent limit?
The total amount of SCCB that you can approve for the current quarter, for a child at risk and financial hardship, cannot be more than 18 per cent of the CCB paid to your service in the quarter before last.
It does not include SCCB that is approved by the FAO or DEEWR.
A quarter refers to a three month period. Quarters run from:
- July to September
- October to December
- January to March
- April to June
The SCCB you approve must not exceed 18 per cent of your service total CCB payment for the quarter before last.
If you are unsure or you are getting close to your 18 per cent limit, fax the “Will my service exceed the 18 per cent limit?” form (DEEWR 08-309) to the CCMS Helpdesk on 1300 663 429.
If you would like to request a higher limit for the current quarter due to extenuating circumstances complete the “Application for a higher limit where 18 per cent has been reached” form (DEEWR 08-309) and fax to the CCMS Helpdesk.
If you do not have approval for a higher limit you should forward all SCCB applications directly to the FAO Special Child Care Assessment Team on 1800 700 533.
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A welfare agency has contacted you and recommended Jorge receives SCCB as he is a child at risk. However, since a lot of your clients have been affected by a severe bush fire you have already approved a lot of SCCB for financial hardship for this January to March quarter. The date is 8 February.
Your average total CCB payment received from DEEWR each week is $1,000. When you multiply this by 12 weeks (3x4 weeks) your total CCB payment for the quarter is approximately $12,000. Since 18 per cent of $12,000 is $2,160 this is the maximum amount of SCCB for every child in your centre you should approve for this January to March quarter.
When you calculate the total SCCB fees for every child since the beginning of January you calculate you have approved $1,500 of SCCB claims. This means until the end of March and if it is required, you can approve another $660 before you reach your 18 per cent limit. |