Tools
Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Estimate how much the Australian Government will contribute to your child care costs through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for 2024–25.
Includes work, study, volunteering, training, or looking for work
Hourly rate cap for Centre Based Day Care: $15.00/hr
of the hourly rate cap
What is the Child Care Subsidy?
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a payment from the Australian Government to help families with the cost of approved child care. It replaced the former Child Care Benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR) on 2 July 2018.
CCS is paid directly to your child care provider, reducing the fees you pay. You'll see the subsidy applied on your account and only need to pay the gap fee.
How is CCS Calculated?
Three factors determine your subsidy:
1. Family Income
Your combined adjusted taxable income determines the percentage of the fee cap you'll receive. The lower your income, the higher the subsidy — up to 90% for families earning $83,280 or less.
2. Activity Test
The number of hours of recognised activity (work, study, volunteering, training) you and your partner do determines how many hours of subsidised care you can access per fortnight.
3. Service Type
Each type of approved child care has a maximum hourly rate cap. If your provider charges more than the cap, the subsidy is calculated on the cap and you pay the difference.
2024–25 CCS Income Thresholds
Effective from 8 July 2024:
| Combined Family Income | CCS Percentage |
|---|---|
| $0 – $83,280 | 90% |
| $83,281 – $133,280 | 90% → 80% (tapers) |
| $133,281 – $183,280 | 80% → 70% (tapers) |
| $183,281 – $233,280 | 70% → 60% (tapers) |
| $233,281 – $353,680 | 60% → 30% (tapers) |
| $353,681 – $533,280 | 30% → 0% (tapers) |
| Above $533,280 | 0% |
The subsidy percentage decreases gradually as income increases within each range. The $10,655 annual cap on CCS was removed for all families from 10 December 2023.
Activity Test
Both parents (or the single parent) must meet the activity test. If you're in a couple, the parent with the lower activity level determines the maximum subsidised hours. Recognised activities include:
- Paid work (including self-employment)
- Approved study or training
- Unpaid work in a family business
- Volunteering
- Looking for work
- Parental leave
| Activity Hours (per fortnight) | Maximum Subsidised Hours |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 hours | 24 hours per fortnight |
| 8 to 16 hours | 72 hours per fortnight |
| 16 to 48 hours | 72 hours per fortnight |
| More than 48 hours | 100 hours per fortnight |
Families earning $83,280 or less per year can access up to 24 subsidised hours per fortnight without meeting the activity test (the "low income" exemption).
Hourly Rate Caps (2024–25)
The maximum hourly fee the government will subsidise, effective 8 July 2024:
| Service Type | Hourly Rate Cap |
|---|---|
| Centre Based Day Care | $15.00 |
| Outside School Hours Care | $13.91 |
| Family Day Care | $13.41 |
| In Home Care | $36.69 |
If your provider charges more than the cap, you pay the full difference above the cap plus your gap fee based on the subsidy percentage.
Who is Eligible?
- Your child must be 13 or under and not attending secondary school
- Your child must meet immunisation requirements
- You (and your partner) must be Australian residents
- You (or your partner) must meet the activity test or be exempt
- You must use an approved child care service
- You must be liable to pay the child care fees
How to Apply
- Create a myGov account and link it to Centrelink if you haven't already
- Claim CCS through your Centrelink online account via myGov
- Provide income details — you'll need to lodge an income estimate
- Confirm your activity — declare your work/study hours
- Enrol your child with your approved child care service and confirm the Complying Written Arrangement (CWA)
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)
Some families may be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy, which provides a higher rate (up to 100%) of fee assistance. ACCS is available for:
- Child wellbeing: Children at risk of serious abuse or neglect
- Grandparent carers: Grandparents on income support who are the principal carer
- Temporary financial hardship: Families experiencing a significant decrease in income
- Transition to work: Families transitioning from income support to work
Multiple Children in Care
Since 7 March 2022, families with multiple children aged 5 and under in child care receive a higher CCS rate for their second and subsequent children. The subsidy percentage increases by up to 30 percentage points (capped at 95%) for the second child and above.
This applies automatically — you don't need to apply separately. Centrelink determines which child is the "higher rate" child based on the order of oldest to youngest.
Official References
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered financial advice. Actual CCS amounts are determined by Services Australia based on your specific circumstances, including your actual adjusted taxable income, activity levels, and child care usage. Rates and thresholds shown are for the 2024–25 financial year and are subject to change. For accurate entitlement information, visit Services Australia or contact them on 136 150.