Can grandparents claim Child Care Subsidy?

Grandparents can claim CCS if they are the primary carer responsible for the child's day-to-day care. They must meet the same eligibility criteria as parents — residency, immunisation, and the activity test (or qualify for the 3-Day Guarantee minimum). If the grandparent receives a qualifying Centrelink payment and is the primary carer, they may qualify for ACCS Grandparent at a higher rate.

What is ACCS Grandparent?

ACCS Grandparent is Additional Child Care Subsidy for grandparents who are the primary carer of a grandchild and receive an eligible Centrelink payment (such as Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, or certain other payments). It provides 100% subsidy up to the hourly cap for up to 100 hours per fortnight, with no activity test requirement.

Does the 26-week CCS cessation rule apply to grandparents?

Yes. The 26-week cessation rule applies regardless of who the CCS claimant is. If no sessions are billed for 26 consecutive weeks, CCS is cancelled for that child. Grandparent carers should be aware of this rule if the child has gaps in attendance.

Can both the grandparent and parent claim CCS for the same child?

Only one person can claim CCS for a child at a time. If the grandparent is the primary carer, they claim CCS under their own Centrelink record. If the parent and grandparent share care at different centres, each can have a separate enrolment and claim CCS for their own care arrangement.

CCS for Grandparents and Relative Carers: Full Guide (2025-26)

7 min read Updated 11 February 2026

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Child Care Subsidy rules when grandparents help, or take over care

Last updated: February 2026 Reviewed against: Services Australia guidance, the Family Assistance Guide, and Department of Education provider guidance

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is administered by Services Australia under Australian family assistance law. Eligibility and payment outcomes are based on formal assessments of care arrangements, income, and enrolments.

This guide explains how CCS works when grandparents are involved in a child's care, including informal support, kinship care, and situations where grandparents become the principal carer.

There are two very different situations:

Grandparents helping out while a parent remains the main carer
Grandparents who have taken over day to day care and are the principal carer

The rules, and who can claim, are not the same.

This guide focuses on the practical questions grandparents ask most often, and the common traps that lead to rejected claims or debts.

Quick answer: can grandparents get CCS?

Sometimes, yes.

But CCS is generally paid to the person who is recognised as the child's eligible carer for family assistance purposes and who is linked to the childcare enrolment.

Being the eligible carer is a formal status assessed by Services Australia. It is linked to responsibility for the child's day to day care and is closely connected to Family Tax Benefit eligibility.

Paying the fees does not automatically mean you can claim CCS.

In many families, the parent will still be the person who claims CCS, even if a grandparent helps with drop off, pick up, or payments.

Situation 1: grandparents helping, but the parent is still the main carer

If the child's parent remains the main carer, the parent will usually be the one who claims CCS.

This is still true if:

A grandparent takes the child to childcare
A grandparent pays some or all of the childcare fees
The child stays at a grandparent's house sometimes

In these cases, the key factor is usually who is listed as the claimant on the childcare enrolment.

Situation 2: grandparents are the principal carer

If a grandparent has taken over day to day care, they may be able to claim CCS in their own right.

This is more common in kinship care, crisis, or protective situations, where the grandparent:

Has the child living with them most of the time
Makes day to day decisions about care, welfare, and development
Is responsible for organising childcare

In these cases, Services Australia may assess whether the grandparent is the principal carer for family assistance purposes.

Evidence is commonly required. This may include court orders, care agreements, school or childcare records, medical letters, or statutory declarations. Requests usually have strict timeframes.

Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparent)

Some grandparents may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparent), also known as ACCS (Grandparent).

To be eligible, Services Australia states that you or your partner must:

be eligible for Child Care Subsidy
receive an income support payment
be the grandparent of the child
have 65% or more care of the child
make the day to day decisions about the child's care, welfare, and development

If ACCS (Grandparent) applies, it can provide much higher support than standard CCS.

ACCS (Grandparent) eligibility is reviewed regularly and may change if circumstances change. Ongoing eligibility is not guaranteed.

How many hours can grandparents get: 72 hours or 100 hours?

From 5 January 2026, most CCS eligible families can receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, even if they do not meet activity requirements. This is known as the 3 Day Guarantee.

Some families may be eligible for up to 100 hours per fortnight, subject to Services Australia assessment.

Services Australia states that if you or your partner have 65% or more care of a grandchild or great-grandchild, you may be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.

If you are eligible for ACCS (Grandparent), the Family Assistance Guide states that you will usually be assessed as eligible for up to 100 hours per fortnight.

Important: CCS only applies to approved childcare

CCS can only be paid for care delivered by an approved childcare provider and reported through the CCS system.

There is no CCS payment for informal care, such as a grandparent minding a child at home.

Even if you pay someone privately, CCS does not apply unless the service is approved.

The role of childcare providers and compliance checks

Approved childcare providers play a formal role in CCS administration.

They are required to:

Submit enrolments
Report attendance and absences
Maintain compliance records

Services Australia relies heavily on provider data when calculating CCS.

Incorrect provider reporting can affect eligibility and may trigger compliance reviews.

Grandparents should regularly check that provider records match actual attendance.

The 26-week rule: when CCS can stop if care is not used

If a child does not attend a session of care at least once in 26 consecutive weeks, they can stop being eligible for CCS.

Some approved absences may still count as attendance for this purpose, depending on circumstances.

For shared care arrangements, the 26-week period is calculated based on the sessions you are responsible for paying for.

If a child starts to attend care again later, a new CCS claim may be required.

Common traps for grandparents

These are the issues that cause the most problems:

Thinking paying the fees means you can claim CCS CCS follows the eligible carer and the enrolment, not who pays.

Not being listed on the enrolment Even if you are eligible, you usually need to be the claimant and link the enrolment.

Assuming informal care is covered It is not. CCS is for approved childcare only.

Not realising CCS can stop after long non-use After 26 weeks without attendance, eligibility can end.

Assuming ACCS is permanent ACCS (Grandparent) is reviewed and can change.

What to do if you are a grandparent taking over care

If you have taken over day to day care, the safest approach is:

Confirm whether you are recognised as the eligible carer
Ensure the childcare enrolment lists you as the claimant
Link and confirm the enrolment in your Centrelink account
Keep your details up to date, including care and income
Keep evidence ready in case it is requested

If your claim is rejected or changed

If you disagree with a CCS or ACCS decision, you may:

Ask for an explanation
Request an internal review
Apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Time limits apply.

How CCSChecker can help

Grandparent and kinship care situations are often complex and fast-changing.

CCSChecker Premium helps you:

Model changes when care arrangements shift
Compare who should be the claimant
Estimate debt risk
Plan updates before submitting them

This reduces uncertainty and financial stress.

Important Disclaimer

This guide provides general information only. It does not replace official advice from Services Australia and does not constitute legal or financial advice.

Legislation, policy, and administrative practice may change.

Services Australia makes the final determination in all cases.

Official sources

Related guides

This is general guidance only. Report all changes (income, relationship, care arrangements) promptly via myGov. For personalised advice, contact Services Australia at 136 150 or visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy.