Tag: CCS Eligibility

Categories
CCS Eligibility CCS News

From 5 January 2026, families can get at least 72 subsidised hours of care each fortnight for each child

The Australian Government is replacing the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test from January 2026 to guarantee at least 3 days of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) each week for children who need it.

How will this initiative work?

From January 2026, all families will be eligible for at least 72 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight (3 days per week), regardless of their activity levels.

Families can still get 100 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight if they meet activity requirements or have a valid exemption.

Families caring for a First Nations child will be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight.

Who will benefit?

The 3 Day Guarantee will benefit all families through certainty around eligibility for subsidised ECEC.

In its first full financial year the 3 Day Guarantee will benefit around 66,700 families, and more than 100,000 families will be eligible for additional hours of subsidised care.

Families earning over $533,280 in 2024-25 are not eligible for subsidised care – consistent with current settings.

Example of benefits

Sarah and Alex are a couple with one child accessing ECEC at 3 days (36 hours) per week. Their combined family income is $90,000 per annum. Sarah works full-time and Alex works 8 hours per week.

Previously, they were eligible for 18 hours of subsidised ECEC per week (36 hours per fortnight). From January 2026, they are eligible for 36 hours per week (72 hours per fortnight).

This saves them $230 per week of care ($11,400 per annum) from their provider charging the average Centre-Based Day Care hourly fee, assuming one child in care for 36 hours per week 50 weeks per year with the average projected fee for 2025-26.

For different family income thresholds, the better off amounts are:

If you want to estimate the possible benefits you might receive from this initiative you can use the 3 Day Guarantee – Early Education Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

How much will it cost?

The Australian Government will invest $426.7 million over five years from 2024-25, including implementation costs for Services Australia, to guarantee eligibility to at least 3 days of subsidised ECEC each week for children who need it.

If you want to learn more about the 3 days of subsidised ECEC you can visit the Fact Sheet – 3 Day Guarantee – Early Education page.

Categories
ACCS CCS Eligibility

Establishing Eligibility for ACCS Child Wellbeing

Establishing eligibility for ACCS child wellbeing

If you identify a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect at your service, they may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) child wellbeing.

Unlike other subsidies, providers apply on behalf of a family. There are important steps to take to ensure the family can get the subsidy. Families may miss out on payments if they delay claiming CCS or are not aware of the immunisation requirements.

CCS eligibility

Families can only get ACCS child wellbeing once they’ve:

  • lodged a CCS claim, and
  • been assessed as CCS eligible.

Services Australia can only backdate payments up to 28 days before the family lodged their successful claim. Families can lodge a CCS claim via their Centrelink online account.

Immunisation requirements

Children must meet immunisation requirements to be eligible for CCS. If a child does not meet the immunisation requirements, the claim will not be approved. The family will need to make a new claim once the child has met the immunisation requirements.

When to use a Provider Eligible Arrangement

In the rare case that you cannot identify a CCS-eligible parent or carer, you – the provider – may be able to get the subsidy on behalf of the child. This is known as a provider eligible arrangement or ‘PEA’. A PEA enables Services Australia to pay the subsidy directly to you. It can only be used in very limited circumstances.

Find detailed guidance about establishing eligibility for ACCS child wellbeing on our website.

Categories
CCS Eligibility CCS News CCS Rates

CCS Family eligibility and entitlement from July 2024 (FY2024-2025)

The Australian Government Department of Education published the 2024–2025 (FY25) CCS family eligibility and entitlement information including the CCS rates & CCS hourly rate caps. Families can use the CCS Calculator at www.childcaresubsidycalculator.com.au to find out what their future rates may be.

Who can get CCS?

Families must meet eligibility criteria to get CCS.

Parents must:

  • care for their child at least 2 nights per fortnight or have 14% share of care
  • be liable for child care fees at an approved child care service
  • meet residency requirements.

Their child must:

  • meet immunisation requirements
  • not be attending secondary school (unless an exemption applies)
  • be 13 or under (except in certain circumstances).

If a child doesn’t attend a session of care at least once in 26 consecutive weeks, they will stop being eligible for CCS. If a child starts to attend care again, a family can make a new claim for CCS.

How much CCS can a family get?

The amount of CCS a family can get depends on their circumstances.

The family income limit to get CCS is increasing to $533,280.

CCS rates from 8 July 2024

Family incomeSubsidy rate
$0 to $83,28090%
More than $83,280 to below $533,280Decreasing from 90% The percentage decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns 
$533,280 or more0%

Number of children in care 

Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care can get a higher subsidy for their second child and younger children.  

The rates for each child are worked out using two separate income tests.

The ‘standard rate child’ is usually the eldest CCS eligible child aged 5 or under. The standard rate child will get the standard CCS rates.

The ‘higher rate child’ is the second and any younger children aged 5 or under. The higher rate for second and younger children is calculated using the for second and younger children.

The higher subsidy for second and younger children will end when a family earns $362,408 or more.

Rates for second and younger children from 8 July 2024

Family income  Second and younger children subsidy rate
$0 to $141,32195%
More than $141,321 to below $186,321Decreasing from 95%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns 
$186,321 to below $265,61180%
$265,611 to below $355,611Decreasing from 80%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns
$355,611 to below $365,61150%
$365,611 or moreHigher CCS rates no longer apply, all children in the family will receive the standard CCS rate

2024–25 hourly rate caps

Care typeHourly rate cap
for children below school age		Hourly rate cap
for school-age children
Centre Based Day Care$14.29$12.51
Outside School Hours Care$14.29$12.51
Family Day Care$13.24$13.24
In Home Care (per family)$38.87$38.87