---
title: "A subsidy covers part of tuition. How do I charge the family a share of the difference?"
description: "Enter the agency's weekly amount as a monthly award, then add a fixed family discount for the part of the gap you waive. The family's invoice comes out to their co-pay plus their share of the gap."
type: overview
updated: 2026-09-23
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/owners/faq/family-pays-part-of-the-subsidy-gap
roles: ["super_admin", "center_admin"]
platforms: [web]
---
Say your private rate is $295 a week, the agency pays $211, the family's co-pay is $0, and you want the family to pay half of the $84 difference, so $42 a week.

Two things to know first:

- A **percentage discount** comes off the tuition line, before the subsidy. A 50% discount on $295 takes $147.50 off, not $42. For a share of the gap, use a **fixed amount** instead.
- The **Expected Family Co-pay** on an award is informational. It does not change the invoice. Whatever the family owes after the award and any discount is what they are invoiced.

Set it up like this under **Billing & Payments → Billing**:

1. **Subsidies → Add Award.** Pick the child and the agency, and enter the agency's amount as a **monthly** figure. Awards are stored per month and divided by 4.33 for weekly plans, so a weekly amount of $211 is entered as $913.63 (211 × 4.33). If the agency pays $211.75, enter $916.88.
2. **Discounts → Add Discount.** Type **fixed amount**, value **42.00**, applies to **this family**. Name it something like "Subsidy gap share".

From the next invoice on, the family's invoice reads: tuition $295, discount −$42, agency −$211, total **$42**. The agency's ledger shows a $211 claim for the week.

For a family with a co-pay, do the same thing. Enter what the agency pays as the award and half of the remaining gap as the fixed discount. If the agency pays $180 and the co-pay is $30, the gap is $85, so the discount is $42.50 and the family's invoice comes to $72.50: their $30 co-pay plus their $42.50 share. There is nothing extra to enter for the co-pay itself.

Full details: [Subsidies and discounts](/owners/billing/subsidies-and-discounts).