Am I Eligible to Receive CCS?
To receive the subsidy, some basic requirements must be satisfied. These include:
- AGE – Your child must be aged 13 or under and must not attend secondary school (certain exemptions apply, e.g. disability, medical condition).
- IMMUNISATION – The child must meet immunisation requirements as outlined by the Australian Government.
- RESIDENCY – The individual (parent or guardian) applying must live in Australia and meet the residency requirement as outlined in legislation.
- CHILDCARE PROVIDER – The childcare provider must be approved and delivered in Australia; the service type is also taken into consideration.
- FAMILY INCOME – The amount of subsidy granted depends on the total taxable income of the individual parent/couple per financial year.
Calculating the CCS: How the CCS Estimator Works
There are two main factors that determine the level of the subsidy that
can be granted to your family:
can be granted to your family:
Family Income
Financial income refers to you, and your partner’s, combined taxable income for the entire financial year.
Hourly rate cap
This is determined by the type of approved service you use and the age of your child
CCS Estimator —
Your Subsidy Percentage by Income (2026–2027)
Your CCS percentage is based on combined family income. Here
is a breakdown of the subsidy percentages according to annual
income:
is a breakdown of the subsidy percentages according to annual
income:
| Your family income | Child Care Subsidy percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $88,520 | 90% | |
| More than $88,520 to below $538,520 | Decreasing from 90% | The percentage decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns |
| $538,520 or more | 0% | |
What counts as “activity”?
The hours of CCS entitlement for each family are based on recognised activity. In two parent families, the hours of care entitled is determined by the person with the lowest number of hours of activity per fortnight. Recognised activity can count as:
- Paid work including being self-employed
- Paid or unpaid leave, including paid or unpaid parental or maternity leave (up to six months)
- Participating in an approved course of education or study
- Training to improve work skills and/or employment prospects
- Unpaid work in a family business by an immediate family member
- Unpaid voluntary work, work experience or internships
- Actively looking for work
- Actively setting up a new business that has not yet began operation (up to six months)
- Recipients of JobSeeker, Parenting Payment or Special Benefit, with a compulsory mutual obligation requirement will have access to 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight
- Recipients of Carer Allowance will have access to 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight
- Other types of activity as assessed by Centrelink as maintaining or improving work skills
New hourly rate caps
per family income
The hours of subsidised care you can access per fortnight applies
to each child. There are four activity levels:
to each child. There are four activity levels:
| Activity level each fortnight | Hours of subsidised care each fortnight |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 hours | 0 hours if you earn above $83,280 24 hours if you earn $83,280 or below36 hours - Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child, regardless of family activity |
| 8 hours to 16 hours | 36 hours |
| More than 16 hours to 48 hours | 72 hours |
| More than 48 hours | 100 hours |
CCS Rates for Second & Younger Children (2026–2027)
| Family income | Second and younger children subsidy rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $146,437 | 95% |
| More than $146,437 to below $191,437 | Decreasing from 95% The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns |
| $191,437 to below $270,727 | 80% |
| $270,727 to below $360,727 | Decreasing from 80% The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns |
| $360,727 to below $370,727 | 50% |
| $370,727 or more | Higher CCS rates no longer apply, all children in the family will receive the standard CCS rate |
Sessional Hours available at Young Academics
At Young Academics we offer a variety of sessional hours to support your CCS entitlement based on the number of days you enrol across the fortnight.
We have 9 hours, 10 hours and 11 hours or more, available to you depending on your activity & enrolment pattern.
We have 9 hours, 10 hours and 11 hours or more, available to you depending on your activity & enrolment pattern.
| Hours of Subsided | Care Allocated |
|---|---|
| 100hrs | 5 day enrolment, we would offer you a 10hr session of care to ensure you are within your 100hr allocation across the fortnight |
| 72hrs | 4 day enrolment, we would offer you a 9hr session of care to ensure you are within your 72hr allocation across the fortnight |
How to apply for CCS
Some other helpful resources:
Set up
Ensure your MyGov account is set up and ready to access
Claim
Sign in to your MyGov, go to Centrelink and select Payment and Claims, click Make a Claim Under Families, click Get Started, answer all questions and follow the prompts, then Submit your claim NOTE - Each child will require a separate claim
Supply documents
Supporting documents must be submitted
Tracking
Your claim can be tracked via your MyGov account – keep hold of your receipt details
Programs at
young academics
Young Academics promises stimulating, quality instruction and
child care programs which spark curiosity in your child.
Family
resources
Our family-focused approach is reflected in all aspects of our care. We are here to
nurture and grow with all in our network.
nurture and grow with all in our network.
