Childcare Subsidy Eligibility Calculator
Estimate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) eligibility and subsidy percentage based on your combined family income, number of children in care, and weekly activity hours. Based on Australian CCS guidelines (2024–25).
Formulas Used
1. Subsidy Rate (Income Test):
- Income ≤ $83,280 → Subsidy Rate = 90%
- $83,280 < Income ≤ $530,000 → Subsidy Rate = 90% − ((Income − 83,280) ÷ (530,000 − 83,280)) × 90
- Income > $530,000 → Subsidy Rate = 0% (not eligible)
2. Activity Test (Max Subsidised Hours per Fortnight):
- 0 hrs activity → 0 hrs subsidised
- Up to 8 hrs → 36 hrs subsidised
- 8–16 hrs → 72 hrs subsidised
- 16+ hrs → 100 hrs subsidised
3. Hourly Rate Cap: Subsidy applies to the lesser of your actual hourly fee or the government hourly rate cap ($13.73/hr for Long Day Care, 2024–25).
4. Fortnightly Subsidy:
Subsidised Hours = min(Care Hours, Max Subsidised Hours)
Capped Hourly Rate = min(Daily Fee ÷ 10, $13.73)
Subsidy = Capped Hourly Rate × Subsidy Rate × Subsidised Hours
5. Annual Cap: Families with income > $83,280 are subject to an annual CCS cap of $10,655 per child (2024–25).
Assumptions & References
- Based on Australian Child Care Subsidy (CCS) rules for the 2024–25 financial year.
- Income thresholds: $83,280 (maximum rate) and $530,000 (cut-off) as per Services Australia.
- Hourly rate cap of $13.73/hr applies to Long Day Care centres (most common care type).
- Daily fee is converted to hourly rate assuming a standard 10-hour care day.
- Activity test hours are per fortnight (combined for couples).
- Multi-child loading (higher rates for 2nd+ children under 6) is noted but not fully modelled — consult Services Australia.
- Annual CCS cap of $10,655 per child applies to families with income above $83,280.
- This calculator does not account for Grandparent Subsidy, Child Care Safety Net, or Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS).
- Results are estimates only. Actual entitlements are determined by Services Australia via myGov.
- References: Services Australia – Child Care Subsidy; DSS CCS Policy.