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Child Care Subsidy Calculator

Estimate your Australian Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for 2024–25. See your subsidy percentage, weekly out-of-pocket costs, and annual savings.

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How the Child Care Subsidy works

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the Australian Government's main payment to help families with the cost of approved child care. It's paid directly to your child care provider, reducing the amount you pay out of pocket.

The CCS was introduced in July 2018, replacing the older Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate with a single, simpler payment. Around 1 million Australian families currently receive the CCS.

🦘 Fun fact: Australian families spend an average of $110–$160 per day on centre-based child care, making it one of the most expensive in the OECD. Without the CCS, many families would pay more for child care than their mortgage.

Frequently asked questions

How is the Child Care Subsidy calculated?

The CCS is calculated using three factors:

1. Family income — determines your subsidy percentage (up to 90% for incomes of $80,000 or less).
2. Activity test — the hours of recognised activity (work, study, training) per fortnight for the parent with fewer hours determines how many subsidised hours you get.
3. Care type — each type has an hourly fee cap. The subsidy applies to the lesser of the actual hourly fee or the cap.

The formula is: Subsidy = min(actual hourly fee, hourly cap) x CCS percentage x subsidised hours.

What is the CCS income threshold?

For 2024–25, the CCS income thresholds are:

$0–$80,000 — 90% subsidy
$80,001–$175,000 — tapers from 90% down to 50%
$175,001–$256,000 — tapers from 50% down to 20%
$256,001–$356,000 — tapers from 20% down to 0%
$356,001+ — 0% (no subsidy)

Second and subsequent children in care (aged 5 or under) receive a higher subsidy rate — up to 30 percentage points more, capped at 95%.

How many hours of subsidised care can I get?

The number of subsidised hours per fortnight depends on your activity level:

8–16 hours of activity per fortnight — up to 36 hours of subsidised care
16–48 hours of activity — up to 72 hours of subsidised care
48+ hours of activity — up to 100 hours of subsidised care

Recognised activities include paid work, self-employment, study, training, volunteering, and looking for work. Both parents must meet the test (the lower of the two determines the hours).

Does the CCS apply to all types of child care?

The CCS applies to approved child care services, including:

Centre-based day care — hourly cap: $15.00/hr
Family day care — hourly cap: $13.73/hr
Outside school hours care — hourly cap: $13.73/hr
In-home care — hourly cap: $36.69/hr (applies to the whole family)

Nannies, au pairs, and non-approved care services are generally not eligible for the CCS unless they are registered through an approved in-home care organisation.