Child Care Subsidy

Trying to work out the cost of childcare and what’s best for your family is all about getting the right advice where Young Academics can help you work out your options. The ins and outs of the Child Care Subsidy can be confusing, especially keeping up with all the changes, so here is everything you need to know.

What Is It? How To Apply? & How Does It Work?

Sending your child to daycare can put a huge financial strain on working families. The Federal Government therefore offers assistance in the form of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to help ease the cost of childcare for eligible families. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the largest form of government assistance. Introduced in 2018, the CCS replaced the former Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate. The CSS is built to ensure that as many children as possible benefit from the opportunities that come with early childhood education. The CCS is paid by Services Australia directly to your childcare provider. Eligible families then benefit from this subsidy in the form of reduced childcare fees. Essentially, families have to cover the gap between the subsidy and the childcare provider fees. At Young Academics, we know how important it is for children to have ample access to the early childhood education they deserve, and as a registered childcare provider, families enrolled at Young Academics are eligible for CSS.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

When you’re looking to see if you’re eligible for CSS there are a few requirements that must be met. Your child must:

• Be a family tax benefit child or regular care child
• Be under 13 years of age
• Meet immunisation requirements

The person claiming the CCS, or their partner must:

• Meet residency requirements
• Be liable to pay for care provided under a complying written agreement with the chosen childcare provider

Once you have ensured you meet these requirements, you can begin the application process for Child Care Subsidy!

How to apply for Child Care Subsidy?

Before applying for CCS, we recommend you have the following documents and details at hand:

• Your MyGov Login
• Your CRN (Centrelink Customer Reference Number)
• Your TFN (Tax File Number)
• Proof of family income
• If you are a student, appropriate documents will be required for further details Medical records

When you are beginning your application, there are a few steps you need to undertake:

1. Log into your MyGov account and navigate to Centrelink
2. Next select Payments and Claim - Claim - Make a Claim
3. Navigate to families and then click on Get Started
4. Fill out all the required information, upload all necessary documentation and click Submit

Please note that if you have multiple children, you will need to submit one claim per child. The CCS process can take up to 6 weeks to gain approval. Once you have completed all those steps, you can track the status of your claim in your MyGov account!

What percentage of CCS can I expect to receive?

As it’s means tested – the amount of CCS you receive is based on the income of the family. The level of subsidy a family receives depends on 3 factors:

• Income: a families (both partners) combined income
• Activity Test: what activities the individual and their partner undertake or exemptions that may apply
• The fees of your childcare service and the number of hours you utilise

You may find this CCS calculator helpful in estimating your CCS entitlements. Alternatively, contact our family Young Academics Enrolments team who can assist in estimating your entitlements. We do also have a handy guide here that shows the estimates you may expect based on your yearly income.

Start Your Young Academics Journey Today?

If you are looking for support with your Child Care Subsidy or looking for a professional and recognised childcare provider, Young Academics is here to help you. Our mission is to help every child start their early learning journey in the very best way. We are on hand to guide you through the entire process, from helping you with your CCS through to your child’s first day with us. We can’t wait to welcome your child to our Young Academics family!