Child Care Subsidy
Child Care Subsidy Calculator
What is the Child Care Subsidy Calculator?
The Child Care Subsidy is financial assistance that is provided by the Australian Federal Government to assist families with the cost of early childhood education and care.
Child Care Subsidy is based on your level of income, activity and the daily fees charged by your provider. Our Child Care Subsidy Calculator can help you estimate how much subsidy you may be eligible for.
This calculation of child care fees incorporates the increase in Child Care Subsidy that came into effect on January 5, 2026.
This calculator has been designed to help you estimate your fees. It is recommended you check with your service provider to confirm an exact figure. Five per cent of your CCS is withheld by Centrelink and will be paid to you at the end of the tax year, based on your tax assessment.
FAQs
About the Child Care Subsidy
A quick guide for families about the subsidies available to support you with the cost of early childhood education and care.
How much Child Care Subsidy can I get?
You will need to answer some questions to learn how much Child Care Subsidy you may be entitled to. This amount will be determined by the hours of work or recognised activity you and your partner undertake each fortnight, your combined family income, and the fees you pay for approved care.
How is the Child Care Subsidy paid?
The Child Care Subsidy is paid directly to your Early Education and Care provider, to reduce the fees that you pay.rnrnFor payments to be made, you will need to have applied for a Customer Reference Number from Centrelink, created a Centrelink account online, created a MyGov account online and completed your child care subsidy assessment.
Am I eligible for Child Care Subsidy?
You may be eligible if you care for your child at least two nights per fortnight or have 14 per cent care, are liable for fees for an approved service, live in Australia for at least 46 weeks of the financial year, and meet residency rules.rnrnYour child must also be 13 years of age or under and not attending secondary school unless an exemption applies, and be up to date with immunisations listed in the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
Hours of recognised activities
The hours of subsidised care you can receive per fortnight depend on recognised activities such as paid work, unpaid work in a family business, approved study or training, volunteering, actively looking for work, or other approved activities.
How many hours of subsidised care am I entitled to?
You may be able to access up to 24 hours of subsidised care per fortnight if you can meet these criteria:
- Your family earns less than $69,390 per annum
- You’re eligible for Child Care Subsidy
If you meet the activity test, your recognised activity hours help determine how many hours of subsidised care you can access each fortnight.
Keeping your details up to date
If you receive Child Care Subsidy, you are responsible for keeping your information with the Australian Federal Government up to date. You can do this regularly online by checking your details are correct. This involves updating your family’s income if it changes, updating a change in recognised activity levels, informing of a change in relationship status or the circumstances of your partnership.
Withholding five per cent of Child Care Subsidy
Five per cent of your Child Care Subsidy will be withheld each financial year to help reduce the likelihood of receiving an overpayment. Where parents received the correct amount, or less subsidy than they were entitled to, amounts withheld during the year will be paid directly to them as a lump sum.
What about Start Strong Funding?
Start Strong Funding is completely separate from the Child Care Subsidy. Start Strong is a NSW Government fee relief program for 3, 4 and 5 year old preschool children. It is designed to incentivise attendance in the two years prior to school, as evidence shows participation in quality early learning in the two years before school leads to the best outcomes for children. All NSW-based Explore & Develop services are eligible for Start Strong Fee Relief funding. Please contact your service directly for detailed information about how the fee relief is applied.
