The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps eligible families access approved and registered child care, by subsidising some of the cost. This subsidy could be as high as 85% of the cost of child care.
The CCS is calculated by a number of factors including: activity level, combined family income, service type and hourly rates. See below for further information on these factors. Visit the Department of Human Services website for further information or to confirm your child’s enrolment details for the CCS.
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Activity Level
The amount of recognised activities completed in a fortnight such as paid work, study, volunteering.
Graph 1: Hours of Activity
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Combined Family Income
The family income estimate determines the amount of subsidy which will offered to you.
Graph 2: Combined Family Income
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Service Type and Hourly Rates
The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can receive depends on the type of service you use, the hourly rates and age of your child. Visit the Department of Human Services website for further information. See below for a summary of hourly rates for our services.
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Additional Child Care Subsidy
The Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) is in place to provide additional support with the cost of child care for eligible families.
To get this you must be eligible for Child Care Subsidy and be one of the following:
- an eligible grandparent getting an income support payment
- transitioning from certain income support payments to work
- experiencing temporary financial hardship
- caring for a child who is vulnerable or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect.
Visit the Services Australia website for further details on ACCS.
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5% Withholding on Payments
Some families are unable to estimate their income accurately ahead of time, so Centrelink withhold 5% of your CCS each fortnight to reduce the likelihood of overpayment.
This means if you overestimated your family income and didn’t receive enough CCS, the outstanding amount will be paid directly to you. This will include the 5% payment withheld over the year.
If you underestimated your annual family income you may have a debt which you’ll need to pay back. The 5% amount withheld will be used to reduce the debt.
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