Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Calculator
Maximise your Child Care Subsidy Benefits with our Calculator today
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a federal government payment designed to help eligible families reduce their child care costs. It’s means-tested, based on your family’s income, circumstances, and the activity levels of parents, such as work, study, or volunteering. To be eligible, you must be an Australian citizen or hold an eligible visa, and your child must meet immunisation requirements.
CCS covers various types of care, including long day care and before- or after-school care. The subsidy is paid directly to child care providers, reducing out-of-pocket costs. Families need to apply through Centrelink and update their details if circumstances change.
What is Free Kindy?
Queensland’s free kindy program offers eligible children 15 hours per week for 40 weeks of quality early education in the year before Prep. Delivered by qualified teachers in sessional kindergartens or long day care, it helps children develop key skills in literacy, numeracy, and socialisation.
To qualify, children must turn four by 30 June of the attending year. The program is free, though additional care outside the 15 hours may incur costs, potentially offset by the Child Care Subsidy.
For details or to find a program near you, visit the Queensland Government’s Early Childhood website.
Key Components of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)!
- Subsidy Percentage – The percentage of child care costs covered by Services Australia (e.g., up to 85%).
- Approved Hours Per Fortnight – The total number of subsidized care hours allocated (e.g., 100 hours per fortnight).
The actual CCS amount depends on your family’s entitlement and the child care centre’s fees. Once approved, the government pays the subsidy directly to the centre, and families are billed for the remaining gap payment.
Want to estimate your potential CCS benefits? Try our Child Care Subsidy Calculator below to quickly determine your eligibility and better plan your child care costs.
The Child Care Subsidy Explained
The Child Care Subsidy can be confusing and overwhelming! And I’m saying this as someone who has worked in early childhood since I left school. Since becoming a parent I have had to navigate the system from the family side and have often been left perplexed. I sat down and had a chat with our resident expert Shantel.
