Child Care Subsidy Calculator
CCS covers 90%+ of fees for low-income families. Calculate your subsidy rate and approved hours based on family income.
What is Child Care Subsidy?
Child care subsidy is a support from Australian government to help you cover a portion of cost of child care when
- The child is not attending secondary school or under 18 with disabilities.
- You use an approved child care service
- You care for your child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care
- You must meet the residence rules
- Your child must meet the immunisation requirements
What can affect how much child care subsidy you can get
- Your Child Care Subsidy percentage will apply to the lowest of either the hourly:
- rate cap
- fee you’re charged by your child care service.
- The hourly rate cap is based on the type of child care service you are taking
- Centre Based Day Care - $14.29
- Family Day Care - $13.24
- Outside School Hours Care - $14.29
- In Home Care - $38.87 per family
- The base rate is the lower value of your actual child care rate and the rate cap above.
- If you have two or more children aged 5 or younger, the government will help you pay up to 95.00% of the base rate when your family income is not higher than $141,321.00
- If not, the government will help you pay up to 90.00% of the base rate when your family income is not higher than $85,279.00
- Based on your activity level, you may get up to 100 hours of child care subsidy from government fortnightly
- It means if you didn't do any recognised activities, you may not be eligible for child care subsidy
What can you get from this tool?
- With child care subsidy, how much money you actually need to pay for your child care
- How much child care subsidy the Australian government will help you pay
- How many hours of child care subsidy you can get from Australian government fortnightly
Your family and your child
Child Care Subsidy you could potentially get
Your activity level
Your activity level is calculated based on the hours of recognised activities you do. The government uses your activity level to work out how many hours of subsidised child care you can get each fortnight.
If you have a partner, both of your activity levels will be checked. The lower of your or your partner’s activity level will be used to work out your hours of subsidised care.
Based on the activity level, the child care subsidy hours you can get from government
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a government payment that reduces the cost of approved child care. It is paid directly to child care providers to reduce your fees. The amount depends on your family income, activity level, and the type of care.
How much CCS can I get in 2026?
Families earning up to $85,279 per year may receive a subsidy rate of 90%. The rate tapers to 0% for families earning $535,279 or more. Families with more than one child aged 5 or younger in care may receive a higher rate for those younger children.
What is the activity test for CCS?
The activity test determines how many hours of subsidised care you can receive per fortnight. Activities include work, training, study, and volunteering. If both parents work 16+ hours a fortnight, you can claim up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
What types of child care does CCS cover?
CCS covers approved centre-based day care, family day care, in-home care, outside school hours care (OSHC), and vacation care. The care provider must be approved by the Department of Education.
Can immigrants claim Child Care Subsidy?
Yes, if you hold an eligible visa. Permanent residents, certain temporary visa holders, and holders of bridging visas (in some circumstances) may be eligible. Check Services Australia for the full list of eligible visa subclasses.