Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Estimate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) — government help with child care costs — from your family income, care type and hours of care.
Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Estimate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from your family income, care type and hours of care (2026-27 rates).
• Paid to provider (after 5% withholding): $861.84
• Subsidy per year: $23,587.20
• Out-of-pocket per year: $4,492.80
• Estimates use 2026-27 rates. The higher CCS rate applies to the second child and younger children under school age.
• Estimates only — the subsidy also depends on your activity level, provider type and annual reconciliation. Confirm with Services Australia.
Who Qualifies for Child Care Subsidy?
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps families with the cost of approved child care, including centre day care, family day care, outside school hours care and in home care. You need to use an approved provider, meet the residence rules and have a recognised activity (work, study, training or volunteering), unless exempt.
How Much Do You Get?
Your subsidy is a percentage of the cost per hour, up to an hourly rate cap set by the government. Families with income up to about $88,520 a year receive 90% of the capped cost. The percentage reduces by 1% for every $5,000 of family income above that, down to 0% at about $538,520. There is a higher rate for a second child and younger children under school age.
How Is the Subsidy Calculated?
The calculator applies your CCS percentage to the lower of the actual fee and the hourly rate cap, multiplied by your hours of care. Centrelink withholds 5% of your subsidy for year-end reconciliation, so the amount paid to your provider is slightly less than the gross subsidy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Child Care Subsidy rate in 2026-27?
Up to 90% of the capped hourly cost for families on $88,520 or less, reducing by 1% per $5,000 of income. A higher rate of up to 95% applies to a second child under school age.
What is the hourly rate cap for child care in 2026-27?
About $15.19 an hour for centre-based day care (preschool age), $13.30 for school-age care, $14.08 for family day care and $41.31 for in home care (per family).
How many hours of child care can I get subsidised?
Most families get at least 72 hours per fortnight, rising to 100 hours per fortnight if you have more than 48 hours of recognised activity.
Does Child Care Subsidy affect my tax?
The CCS is not taxable income. Centrelink withholds 5% of your subsidy during the year and reconciles it against your final family income at tax time.