Assistance to help you with the cost of child care.

Services Australia pay this subsidy directly to your child care provider to reduce the fees you pay.

The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can get depends on your circumstances.

Use the Payment and Service Finder to estimate how much Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you may get.

To work out how much CCS you’re eligible for we’ll look at all of the following:

• your family’s income
• the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age
• the hours of activity you and your partner do.

The amount of subsidised child care you can access per fortnight applies to each child.

If you have a CCS overpayment, we may use some of your CCS each fortnight to pay this back. The easiest way to repay money is by using the Money you owe service. This is available in either your Centrelink online account through myGov or your Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. 

Extra Support

Some families can get Additional Child Care Subsidy. It will be paid on top of Child Care Subsidy to provide extra support with child care fees.

There are 3 different types of Additional Child Care Subsidy that you can apply for. You can apply if you’re either:

• a grandparent
• transitioning to work
• experiencing temporary financial hardship

Approved child care

These are services that have Australian Government approval to get Child Care Subsidy on your behalf to reduce your fees. Approved child care includes:

• Centre Based Day Care, including long day care and occasional care
• Family Day Care
• Outside School Hours Care, including before, after and vacation care

In Home Care

The eligibility criteria for In Home Care is different. You need to meet all eligibility criteria for Child Care Subsidy as well as extra criteria. You can read more about In Home Care on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

Changes on 10 July 2023.  

Most families using child care can now get more subsidy. Read more about what you need to know from July.

There are also changes to the CCS activity test for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Who can get it

You need to meet some requirements to get Child Care Subsidy.

You may be eligible if you or your partner meet all of the following:

• care for your child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care
• are liable for fees for care provided at an approved child care service
• meet the residency rules.

Your child must also meet both of these:

• immunisation requirements
• not be attending secondary school unless an exemption applies.

If your child attends secondary school, you may still be eligible if they need supervision. They must be either:

• 13 or under
• 14 to 18 with disability.

In these circumstances, you must provide evidence as to why your child can't be unsupervised. This may include evidence of your child’s disability. You also need to confirm an adult is unable to care for your child during this time.

Each person that’s liable to pay child care fees will need to apply for this subsidy and meet these criteria.