Who is eligible for Child Care Subsidy in Australia?

To receive CCS you must: be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an eligible visa; have a child in approved childcare; meet the immunisation requirements; and meet the activity test (or be eligible for the 3-Day Guarantee). There is no hard income cut-off, but CCS phases out to 0% above $535,279 combined family ATI in 2025-26.

Do I need to pass an activity test to get CCS?

Yes, the activity test determines how many subsidised hours you receive per fortnight (up to 72 hours for lower activity levels, or 100 hours for higher). However, from January 2026 the 3-Day Guarantee provides a minimum of 72 subsidised hours per fortnight for most families regardless of their activity level, up to the activity test maximum.

Does my child need to be immunised to receive CCS?

Yes. Children must be up to date with the approved immunisation schedule, have an approved medical exemption, or be on a catch-up schedule to be eligible for CCS. The immunisation status is checked against the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Can I get CCS if I am self-employed?

Yes. Self-employment counts as a recognised activity for the CCS activity test. You need to demonstrate a minimum number of hours of work per fortnight (at least 8 hours for 36 hrs/fortnight subsidised care, or at least 16 hours for 72 hrs/fn). Income from self-employment is included in your ATI.

Who Is Eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?

6 min read Updated 6 March 2026

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The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is available to most Australian families using approved childcare — but you do need to meet a set of eligibility rules. Here's what's required, and how each rule affects how much you receive.

1. Your Child's Age

Your child must be:

Under 13 years old, or
13 but still attending primary school

CCS covers a wide range of approved services for children in this age group, including long day care, family day care, occasional care, and outside school hours care (OSHC). Once a child starts secondary school, CCS payments for that child generally stop.

2. Immunisation Requirements

Your child must meet Australia's immunisation requirements to receive CCS. This means they must be:

Fully immunised according to the National Immunisation Program schedule, or
On an approved catch-up schedule

If immunisation requirements aren't met, CCS cannot be paid unless an exemption applies. You can check your child's immunisation history through the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) in myGov.

3. Approved Childcare Provider

CCS only applies to approved childcare services. These include:

Long day care centres
Family day care
Outside school hours care (OSHC)
Occasional care
In Home Care (through an approved provider)

Informal arrangements — babysitters, grandparents, unlicensed carers — are not eligible for CCS unless they operate through a formally approved In Home Care program.

4. Residency Requirements

You (or your partner, if applicable) generally need to be:

An Australian citizen
A permanent resident
The holder of an eligible visa

Some temporary visa holders are also eligible depending on their visa subclass. If you're unsure whether your visa qualifies, contact Services Australia on 136 150.

5. Responsibility for the Child

To receive CCS you must:

Care for the child at least 14% of the time (roughly two nights per fortnight), and
Be responsible for paying the childcare fees

In shared care arrangements, both parents may be able to claim CCS for the same child — each based on their percentage of care. See separated parents and CCS for details.

6. Activity Test: How Many Hours You Get

The number of subsidised hours you're entitled to each fortnight depends on your recognised activity level. Recognised activities include:

Paid work (including self-employment)
Study or training
Volunteering
Actively looking for work

Since January 2026, the 3-Day Guarantee means most families receive a minimum of 72 subsidised hours per fortnight, even with low or no activity. Families with higher activity levels can access up to 100 hours per fortnight.

For a full breakdown of how activity hours translate to entitlement, see activity hours explained.

7. Your Income Determines Your CCS Percentage

Your combined family income sets the percentage of childcare fees the government will subsidise. The taper works roughly like this:

Family income (2025-26)	Approximate CCS rate
Up to ~$83,280	Up to 90%
~$83,280 – ~$118,771	Tapers from 90% down
~$118,771 – ~$354,305	36% (base rate)
Above ~$354,305	Phase-out applies

The subsidy only applies up to a government-set hourly rate cap. If your provider charges above the cap, you pay the gap regardless of your CCS percentage.

Use the calculator below to see your estimated rate based on your income:

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8. You Still Need to Apply

Meeting the eligibility rules doesn't start CCS automatically. You must:

Submit a CCS claim through Centrelink in myGov
Confirm your childcare enrolment once your provider submits it

CCS backdating is generally limited to 28 days, so apply before your child starts care. See how to apply for CCS for a step-by-step walkthrough.

How CCS Is Checked After Tax Time

CCS is paid during the year based on your income estimate. After you lodge your tax return, Services Australia recalculates your entitlement using your actual income. If your income was higher than estimated, some subsidy may need to be repaid.

Keeping your income estimate updated throughout the year reduces this risk. See how income estimates affect CCS and when to update your CCS details.

Key Takeaways

Your child must be under 13 (or 13 and still in primary school) and attending an approved service.
Immunisation requirements must be met — check the AIR register in myGov.
You must have care responsibility for the child (at least 14% of the time) and be paying the fees.
Activity level determines your subsidised hours (72 hrs/fortnight minimum under the 3-Day Guarantee; up to 100 hrs with higher activity).
Family income sets your CCS percentage — lower income = higher subsidy.
Meeting the rules isn't enough — you must apply and confirm the enrolment for payments to start.

FAQ

Can grandparents or other carers receive CCS?

Generally no — CCS is paid to the parent or legal guardian who is responsible for the child and paying the childcare fees. However, grandparents who are the primary carers of their grandchild may be eligible in some circumstances. See grandparents and CCS.

What if my child has a medical exemption from immunisation?

Medical contraindication exemptions are accepted. The exemption must be registered on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). A conscientious objection is not an accepted exemption — your child must be vaccinated or have a valid medical reason not to be.

Does my partner's income count even if they're on parental leave?

Yes. CCS is based on combined family income, and your partner's income estimate for the full financial year is included — even if they're not working for part of it due to parental leave. See CCS during parental leave for how to estimate this correctly.

What if I'm self-employed or run my own business?

Self-employed parents can meet the activity test through their business activities. Your income estimate should reflect expected business profit, not just salary. See CCS for small business owners and sole traders.

What visa types are eligible?

The full list of eligible visas is published by Services Australia and includes most permanent resident visas, some temporary protection visas, and specific humanitarian visas. If you're unsure, contact Services Australia on 136 150 before enrolling your child in care.

This is general guidance only. Eligibility rules can change. For personalised advice, contact Services Australia on 136 150 or visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy.