Where can I apply for childcare subsidies? Hot Q&A on national childcare subsidy program.

The implementation plan for the national childcare subsidy system was announced on July 28th. According to the plan, the subsidy is available for infants and toddlers under the age of 3 born after January 1, 2025, in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. In other words, regardless of whether it is the first child, second child, or third child, families are eligible to apply for the childcare subsidy. Infants and toddlers born before January 1, 2025, and not yet 3 years old, can also benefit from the policy, with the subsidy amount adjusted based on the number of months they are eligible for. He Dan, director of the China Population and Development Research Center, stated that the subsidy is available for families with one, two, or three children, with the same standard, achieving comprehensive coverage of family support under the three-child policy and demonstrating the policy's inclusiveness and fairness. Professor Jiang Quanbao from the School of Labor Economics at Capital University of Economics and Business believes that the decision to have the first child is crucial in family planning, and including first-born children in the subsidy can help alleviate the fertility concerns of young couples to a certain extent. How to apply for the childcare subsidy? The plan specifies that the subsidy can be applied for by either parent of the infant or toddler or another guardian at the child's household registration location, primarily through an online application system for the childcare subsidy, but offline applications are also accepted. Each province will determine the specific distribution times based on local circumstances. It is understood that relevant departments are actively preparing for the implementation of the system. Zhang Benbo, a researcher at the Institute of Social Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated that by providing a universal cash subsidy directly to families, it can directly increase the disposable income of childcare families and improve their sense of access to benefits.