Childcare Cost Calculator (CCS)
Calculate your weekly childcare cost after the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) based on your income and hours of care.
Check your centre's current fee — AU average long day care ~$130–180/day
Combined taxable income — used to determine CCS rate
How to Use
1. Select your child's age group — care type options and fees vary by age. 2. Choose the care type — Long Day Care, Family Day Care, OOSH, or Vacation Care each have different government hourly rate caps. 3. Enter days per week and your daily fee (check your centre's current rate — AU average for long day care is ~$130–180/day). 4. Enter your combined household income — this is the primary driver of your CCS rate. 5. Select your activity test level — both parents must meet minimum activity hours to be eligible for CCS.How the CCS works: The government pays a percentage of your childcare fee directly to your provider. The subsidy is calculated on the lesser of your actual fee or the government's hourly rate cap. The subsidy percentage is determined by your combined family income and decreases as income rises above $80,000.
Formula
CCS Rate = Based on household income (90% at ≤$80k, tapering to 0% at >$530k)
Subsidised Daily Fee = min(Actual Daily Fee, Government Hourly Cap × Hours Per Day)
Daily Subsidy = Subsidised Daily Fee × CCS Rate
Daily Out-of-Pocket = Actual Daily Fee − Daily Subsidy
Weekly Cost = Daily Out-of-Pocket × Days Per WeekFrequently Asked Questions
How is the CCS rate calculated?
The Child Care Subsidy rate is primarily determined by your combined household taxable income. For families earning up to $80,000, the rate is 90%. It gradually reduces as income increases, reaching 0% for families earning above $530,000. The subsidy is also subject to an hourly rate cap — the government only subsidises up to a set hourly rate. If your provider charges more than the cap, you pay the full difference out of pocket. The CCS is paid directly to your childcare provider and reduces your fees.
Does grandparent care qualify for CCS?
Grandparents can access CCS if they are the primary carer of their grandchild and the grandchild's parents are not living with them. There is a special Grandparent CCS available for grandparents on income support payments. Standard CCS may also apply if the grandparent is an approved childcare provider. Family Day Care run by a grandparent who is an approved provider is eligible. Informal, private grandparent care arrangements (where fees are paid directly to the grandparent without an approved provider arrangement) are not eligible for CCS.
What is the CCS activity test and how does it work?
The activity test ensures both parents are engaged in work, study, training, or other approved activities. The number of subsidised hours your family is eligible for depends on the lesser-earning parent's activity hours in a fortnight. Less than 8 hours: no CCS. 8–16 hours: up to 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. 16–48 hours: up to 72 hours. 48+ hours: unlimited hours of subsidised care. Single parents only need to meet the test for themselves. Families experiencing temporary changes in activity can apply for an exemption.
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