Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme for the 2008/2009 school year

Assessment of Eligibility

Q1. Can my / my spouse's brothers, sisters or other relatives be counted as family members?
Q2. What is the meaning of dependent parents?
Q3. Can my ex-spouse, divorced or separated, be counted as a family member?
Q4. Do I have to declare the income of my ex-spouse, divorced or separated?
Q5. If my spouse only contributes part of his / her income to the family, can I report only the contribution as his / her “INCOME”?
Q6. Is rent / mortgage repayment deductible from income?
Q7. How to report the income of unmarried children residing with the family?
Q8. Can married children residing with the family be counted as family members?
Q9. What should I note concerning the criteria for assessing “social need”?

Application Procedures

Q1. How do you determine the effective month for the KG fee remission?
Q2. Should I apply to Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Section for my child who has studied in a child care centre before September 2005 and wishes to transfer to a kindergarten in September 2005 or later?
Q3. My child was referred by Social Welfare Department for granting Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission in 2007/08, what should I do in 2008/09 or later?

Assessment of Eligibility

1 Q: Can my / my spouse's brothers, sisters or other relatives be counted as family members?
1 Ans: No.

2 Q: What is the meaning of dependent parents?
2 Ans: Dependent parents mean the parents of the applicant / spouse who meet the following requirements:
  1. They are not in receipt of CSSA; and
  2. For a continuous period of at least 6 months throughout the assessment year (1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008),
    1. they have resided with the applicant’s family and supported by the applicant or his / her spouse; or
    2. they have taken up permanent residence at another premise owned or rented by the applicant / spouse (i.e. Name of the applicant and / or his / her spouse should be shown on the relevant lease documents); or
    3. they have lived in their own premises or elderly homes and have been fully supported by the applicant / spouse.

3 Q: Can my ex-spouse, divorced or separated, be counted as a family member?
3 Ans: No.

4 Q: Do I have to declare the income of my ex-spouse, divorced or separated?
4 Ans: No. However, the alimony or maintenance paid by the ex-spouse from April 2007 to March 2008 should be stated in the column "Any other yearly income" in respect of "FAMILY INCOME" in the application form.

5 Q: If my spouse only contributes part of his / her income to the family, can I report only the contribution as his / her "INCOME"?
5 Ans: All salary, allowances and other fringe benefits of both the husband and wife should be included in the family's income.

6 Q: Is rent / mortgage repayment deductible from income?
6 Ans: No.

7 Q: How to report the income of unmarried children residing with the family?
7 Ans: The applicant should state in the application form 30% of the annual income of unmarried children residing with the family and provide documentary evidence for their income.

8 Q: Can married children residing with the family be counted as family members?
8 Ans: No. However, the contribution paid by married children residing with the family should be stated in the application form.

9 Q: What should I note concerning the criteria for assessing "social need"?
9 Ans: The criteria for assessing 'social need' are set out in the Appendix of the 'Guidance Notes of KCFRS (2008/2009)'. In addition, please also note that:
a. Category (1)
The period of employment should normally cover the entire assessment period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. However, the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) will also consider cases whereby the parents of the student-applicants can prove, with documentary evidences such as appointment letters or employment certifications, that they have subsequently met the 120/104 hours criteria (at least one month or more prior to applications). Based on the changes of the parents’ employment status, the SFAA will assess the ‘Adjusted Family Income’ and ‘Social Needs’ according to the applicant’s latest projected annual family income and situation.
b. Category 3(b)
Pupil-applicants of unmarried parents and not under the care of both parents will qualify for the “Social Needs” assessment under Category 3 (b) upon the production of birth certificates and self-declaration by the parents. Social worker’s recommendation is not required.
c. Category 3(c)
Pupil-applicants who are orphans/semi-orphans under the care of relatives will qualify for the “Social Needs” assessment under Category 3 (c) upon the production of death certificates of their parents and self-declaration by their relatives. Social worker's recommendation is not required.
d. Category 4(e)
For pupil-applicants with a parent or guardian in prison or absent from home for other valid reason for long periods, apart from social worker’s recommendation, this Agency will also consider cases upon the production of self-declaration of the applicant together with the relevant supporting documents.
e. Category 5(a)
For pupil-applicants who need full-day care because of special conditions of other family members (e.g. chronically ill, physically or mentally handicapped), the applicants will qualify for the “Social Needs” assessment under Category 5 (a) upon the production of the identity document(s) of the relevant family member(s) and medical certificate (which shows the kind of chronic illness the family member(s) is/are suffering from) issued by hospital or medical practitioner, or documentary proofs of their being physically/mentally handicapped.  Social worker’s recommendation is not required.

Application Procedures

1 Q: How do you determine the effective month for the KG fee remission?
1 Ans: We will determine the effective month for fee remission according to the month in which the application is submitted by the applicant, or the month in which the pupil is admitted to the kindergarten, whichever is the later.

2 Q: Should I apply to Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Section for my child who had studied in a child care centre before September 2005 and wishes to transfer to a kindergarten in September 2005 or later?
2 Ans:

For children who have benefited from Child Care Centres Fee Assistance Scheme (CCCFAS) during 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005, their parents can choose to continue applying for CCCFAS if these children are receiving full-day service in child care centres or kindergartens until they are admitted to primary schools. Change of pre-primary institutions will not affect these children's eligibility for CCCFAS.

If parents have chosen and received assistance under the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme (KCFRS), they cannot re-apply for CCCFAS.

If children are not CCCFAS beneficiaries during 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005, they need to apply to Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Section.

 
3 Q: My child was referred by Social Welfare Department for granting Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission in 2007/08, what should I do in 2008/09 or later?
3 Ans: For those cases referred by Social Welfare Department and receiving Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission in 2007/08, parents have to submit the completed 2008/09 KCFRS application form to SFAA through the kindergarten on their children’s admission to the kindergarten in the new academic year 2008/09.