1. Can I use this CCS calculator if I don’t meet the Activity Test Requirements?

No, do not use the calculator if you do not meet the Child Care Subsidy Activity Test requirements.

2. Is this CCS calculator secure?

Yes. Your information is protected with SSL certificate.

3. Do you have a CCS calculator for In-Home Care?

Yes, you can use the online In-Home Care CCS Calculator.

4. My child is currently in child care. We are approved for 100 hours a fortnight as my husband and I both work full time. I will be on maternity leave soon. Will I still be covered for the same amount of CCS at childcare when on maternity leave as when I am at working full time?

Yes, your 100 hours CCS entitlement will be the same. As a matter of fact maternity leave does NOT affect the hours of subsidised care that individuals are entitled to. The Family Assistance Guide does not explicitly state maternity leave as a recognised activity for CCS activity test. This might leave many parents confused. The fact that maternity leave is a type of parental leave entitlements makes it definitely a recognised activity for CCS activity test.

According to 3.5.2.10 CCS – activity test – general in Family Assistance Guide (Version 1.264 – Released 12 May 2025), paid work (a recognised activity for CCS activity test) includes periods of paid and unpaid leave such as parental leave, annual leave, long service leave, leave for illness or injury, or carer’s leave. Individuals on paid or unpaid leave will have their leave recognised for the same number of hours per fortnight as they worked immediately prior to being on leave. For example: If an individual was working 50 hours per fortnight immediately before their leave, they would (continue to) have an activity test result of 100 hours per fortnight while on leave. This means when you apply for CCS, under work/activity you need to put the hours you were doing before you went on maternity leave.

On the website of Australian Government Department of Human Services, it clearly states that “We’ll count any paid or unpaid parental and maternity leave you take.” as recognised activities.

5. How is the CCS calculated?

Here are some examples (assuming no withholding by the government until year-end reconciliation):

Example 1:Family A meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 85% up to 50 hours per week. The long day care centre charges Family A $130 per day for a 10-hour long day care session for their below school age child.

• Example 1 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $130 / 10 = $13.00
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $13.00 x 85% = $11.05
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $14.63 x 85% = $12.44
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $11.05
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $11.05 x 10 x 5 = $552.05
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $130 x 5 – $552.05 = $97.50

Example 2: Family B: 85% subsidy, 50 hours/week, $160/day for 10 hoursFamily B meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 85% up to 50 hours per week. The long day care centre charges Family B $160 per day for a 10-hour long day care session for their below school age child.

• Example 2 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $160 / 10 = $16.00
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $16.00 x 85% = $13.60
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $14.63 x 85% = $12.44
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $12.44
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $12.44 x 10 x 5 = $622.00
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $160 x 5 – $622.00 = $178.00

Example 3: Family C meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 85% up to 50 hours per week. The family day care charges Family C $120 per day for a 10-hour long day care session for their below school age child.

• Example 3 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $120 / 10 = $12.00
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $12.00 x 85% = $10.20
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $13.56 x 85% = $11.53
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $10.20
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $10.20 x 10 x 5 = $510.00
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $120 x 5 – $510.00 = $90.00

Example 4: Family D meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 50% up to 50 hours per week. The long day care centre charges Family D $160 per day for a 10-hour long day care session for their below school age child.

• Example 4 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $160 / 10 = $16.00
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $16 x 50% = $8.00
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $14.63 x 50% = $7.32
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $7.32
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $7.32 x 10 x 5 = $366.00
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $160 x 5 – $366.00 = $434.00

Example 5: Family E meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 50% up to 50 hours per week. The long day care centre charges Family E $130 per day for a 10-hour long day care session for their below school age child. The child is enrolled for 50 weeks’ care.

• Example 5 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $130 / 10 = $13.00
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $13.00 x 50% = $6.50
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $14.63 x 50% = $7.32
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $6.50
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $6.50 x 10 x 5 = $325.00
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $130 x 5 – $325.00 = $325.00

Example 6: Family F meets the activity test and is entitled to a subsidy of 85% up to 50 hours per week. The long day care centre charges Family F $160 per day for a 12-hour long day care session for their below school age child.

• Example 6 Calculation:
  Step 1 Work out hourly fee = $160 / 12 = $13.33
  Step 2 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee = $13.33 x 85% = $11.33
  Step 3 Work out the hourly subsidy based on the hourly fee cap = $14.63 x 85% = $12.44
  Step 4 Compare the results from Step 2 and Step 3 and use the less one as the actual hourly subsidy = $11.33
  Step 5 Work out the weekly subsidy = $11.33 x 10 x 5 = $566.50
  Step 6 Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost = $160 x 5 – $566.50 = $233.50

5. How is the Child Care Subsidy Percentage determined?

The Child Care Subsidy Calculator estimates your Child Care Subsidy Percentage based on the Child Care Subsidy Percentage & Combined Family Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) table (as shown below) published by the Australian Government.

For FY2026 families earning $85,279 or less will receive a subsidy of 90 per cent of the actual fee charged (up to 90 per cent of an hourly fee cap). For family incomes above $85,279, the subsidy tapers down by 1 per cent for each $5000 of family income to 0 per cent when family income reaches $535,279. For families with incomes of $535,279 or more, the subsidy is zero per cent.

CCS Rates FY2026

• • Combined Family Income Up to $85,279 → 90% Subsidy per cent of the actual fee charged

  • More than $85,279 to below $535,279 → Decreasing from 90%, the percentage decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns

  • $535,279 or more → 0%

Higher CCS rates FY2026:

• Combined Family Income $0–$143,273 → 95% subsidy

• More than $143,273 to below $188,273 → Decreasing from 95%, the percentage decreases by 1% for every $3000 of income a family earns

• $188,273 to below $267,563 → 80% subsidy

• $267,563 to below $357,563 → Decreasing from 80%, the percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns

• $357,563–$367,563 → 50% subsidy

• $367,563+ → Higher CCS rates no longer apply, all children in the family will receive the standard CCS rate

If you cannot find an answer to your child care subsidy question, please feel free to share your CCS question with us and we will get back to you within 24 hours. If you do not hear from us, please come back to this page as we may include your question and the answer here instead of sending you an email.