Family finances
Childcare Subsidy Calculator
Calculate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) based on your family income and activity test. See exactly what you'll pay out of pocket — per hour, week, and year.
Your details
Combined family income
$120,000
$30k$500k
Childcare type
Hourly fee charged
$14.00/hr
$5/hr$30/hr
Hours per week in care
36 hrs/wk
5 hrs60 hrs
Number of children in care
1
14
Activity hours per fortnight (combined, both parents)
48 hrs
0 hrs100 hrs
Loading activity test result...
$0
out of pocket per week
$0/hr out of pocket
Cost split
Government subsidy
$0
0%
Your cost
$0
0%
Your CCS rate
0%
Annual breakdown
☕ Your childcare costs 0 flat whites per day (at $5.50 each)
Where you sit on the CCS scale
CCS rate by family income (2025–26)
$0
0%$80k
90%$174k
50%$254k
50%$344k
20%$354k+
0%
90%$174k
50%$254k
50%$344k
20%$354k+
0%
Tips to maximise your subsidy
1
Increase your activity hours. If you're just under a threshold (8, 16 or 48 hrs/fortnight), even a few extra hours of work or study can unlock significantly more subsidised care hours.
2
Claim your higher-rate child first. Your second and subsequent children get an additional 30% CCS (capped at 95%). Enrol your youngest child first to capture the higher rate.
3
Use an approved provider. Only approved childcare services are eligible for CCS. In Home Care also qualifies — useful for families who need flexible hours or live regionally.
4
Keep your Centrelink income estimate accurate. CCS is paid fortnightly based on an estimated income. If your income is lower than estimated, you'll get a top-up at tax time.
5
Check the hourly rate cap. The subsidy is based on the lower of your actual fee or the government hourly rate cap. Choosing a provider at or below the cap means you get maximum subsidy with no gap.
⚠️ Estimates only. CCS rates and thresholds are for 2025–26. Actual entitlements depend on Centrelink assessment. Confirm with Services Australia.