CCFRI — the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative — is the BC subsidy that lowers your childcare fee automatically at a participating centre. You don’t apply, there’s no income test, and the savings simply show up as a reduced monthly fee.
The 2025–26 fee reduction amounts
| Age category | Group / centre | Family / in-home |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0–18 months) | $900 | $600 |
| Toddler (18–36 months) | $900 | $600 |
| 3 years to Kindergarten | $545 | $500 |
| Kindergarten | $320 | $320 |
| Grade 1 to age 12 | $115 | $145 |
| Preschool (part-day) | $95 | — |
Full-time maximums. CCFRI won’t reduce a fee below $200/month ($10/day), or $140/month for preschool. Source: BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, CCFRI Funding Guidelines 2025–26.
Why you don’t apply
CCFRI is paid to the provider, who opts the facility in and passes the reduction to families. That’s the opposite of the Affordable Child Care Benefit, which you apply for yourself and which is income-tested.
How it stacks with the other subsidies
- CCFRI reduces your base fee automatically (above).
- Affordable Child Care Benefit applies on top, income-tested — for lower incomes it can take the rest close to $0.
- $10-a-day (CWELCC) sites cap the fee at about $200/month for full-time care.
See what all three add up to for your family in the BC child care subsidy calculator, then browse centres with space on our childcare boards.
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Start free — no card needed → See the live demoFrequently asked questions
- Do I need to apply for CCFRI?
- No. Families don’t apply for CCFRI — the child care provider opts the facility in, and the savings are passed to you automatically each month as a reduced fee. The Affordable Child Care Benefit is the separate one you apply for yourself.
- How much is the CCFRI reduction?
- For 2025–26 (group/centre care): up to $900/month for infants and toddlers under 36 months, $545 for 3-years-to-Kindergarten, $320 for Kindergarten, $115 for Grade 1 to age 12, and $95 for preschool. Family/in-home rates differ. Fees are never reduced below $200/month ($10/day).
- How do I know if my daycare offers CCFRI?
- Ask them, or check your invoice for a fee reduction line. Most licensed BC centres participate. If yours doesn’t, the reduction won’t apply — which is worth factoring into where you enrol.