Need Child Care Payment Support?
Funded by the Federal government and administered through Centrelink; the Child Care Subsidy program helps make childcare affordable to parents or carers returning to work or study by reducing their out-of-pocket care expenses.
How Does it Work?
The program is means-tested; therefore, families with lower incomes will receive greater support payments than families with higher incomes.
Want to learn more about the subsidy program? We have provided general information below or you can Contact Us Directly to Discuss Your Specific Situation.
Am I Eligible for the Child Care Subsidy?
To be eligible you must:
care for a child, aged 13 or younger who is not attending secondary school (exemptions apply for children with disabilities)
care for a child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care responsibility
use an approved childcare service; approved centres offer both long day care and occasional care
be responsible for paying childcare fees
meet residency and Immunisation Requirements – if receiving Family Tax B – Part A or child care fee assistance
We are here to assist you with a subsidy assessment, which will be based on these factors:
Your combined family’s income
Your activities and the Hours of Activity you and your partner do
The type of childcare you use: long and occasional care is capped at $12.31 per hour
How Much of My Child Care Fees Will the Subsidy Cover?
The Department of Education has set out a table of the percentage the Child Care Subsidy will contribute towards based on the family’s combined income. Use this helpful child care subsidy calculator as a guide;
| Your Family Income | Child Care Subsidy Percentage |
|---|---|
| $0 to $70,015 | 85% |
| More than $70,015 to below $175,015 | Between 85% and 50% The percentage goes down by 1% for every $3,000 of income your family earns |
| $175,015 to below $254,305 | 50% |
| $254,305 to below $344,305 | Between 50% and 20% The percentage goes down by 1% for every $3,000 if income your family earns |
| $344,305 to below $354,305 | 20% |
| $354,305 or more | 0% |
* Families earning over $190,0150 and under $354,305 will have an annual cap of $10,655 per year per child.
Child Care Subsidy Cap
The income threshold at which an annual cap does apply, and the value of the cap, are adjusted annually in accordance with CPI. The table below shows how the annual cap applies from 1 July 2021.
2021 – 2022
CCS Annual Cap
| Annual Subsidy Cap per child each financial year | $10,655 |
| Annual Subsidy Cap Threshold | $190,015 |
Hourly Rate Caps
The hourly rate caps are the maximum hourly rate used to calculate families’ Child Care Subsidy for each service type. The hourly rate caps are adjusted annually in accordance with CPI. The table below shows the hourly rate caps that apply from 1 July 2021.
2021-2022
CCS Hourly Rate Cap
| Children below school age | School-age children | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Based Day Care | $12.31 | $10.77 |
| Outside School Hours Care | $12.31 | $10.77 |
| Family Day Care | $11.40 | $11.40 |
| In-Home Care (per family) | $33.47 | $33.47 |
Child Care Subsidy Activities Test
The maximum entitled hours of subsidised care available is 100 hours per fortnight. In two-parent households, an activities test will be applied. The parent with the lowest hours of work or approved activity will determine how much subsidised care the family is entitled to.
| Step | Hours of Activity per Fortnight | Max No. of Hours of Subsidy per Child per Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Less than 8 hours | 0 hours if you earn above $69,390 24 hours if you earn $69,390 or below |
| 2 | More than 8 – 16 hours | 36 hours |
| 3 | More than 16 -48 hours | 72 hours |
| 4 | More than 48 hours | 100 hours |
To meet the activities test, parents can be involved in a variety of paid or unpaid work. These include:
Paid work, including leave
Self-employment
Voluntary work
Training for employment upskilling
Tertiary study or apprenticeships
Job seeking
Paid parental leave
Is Additional Child Care Subsidy Support Available?
Yes, additional Child Care Subsidy is available if you meet the following requirements;
care for a child, aged 13 or younger (exemptions apply for children with disabilities)
care for a child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care responsibility
use an approved childcare service; approved centres offer both long day care and occasional care
be responsible for paying childcare fees
meet residency and Immunisation Requirements – if receiving Family Tax B – Part A or child care fee assistance
As family circumstances differ, we recommend that you give us a call to discuss how to apply for childcare subsidy.