How do I apply for Child Care Subsidy in Australia?

Apply for CCS through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. You will need: your CRN, your child's CRN, both parents' Tax File Numbers, your income estimate for the financial year, and your child's immunisation status on the Australian Immunisation Register. Your childcare provider must also submit an enrolment.

How long does CCS approval take?

CCS can be approved within a few business days in straightforward cases. Complex applications or those requiring identity confirmation may take longer. It is best to apply at least 2-4 weeks before childcare begins. CCS cannot be backdated beyond certain time limits.

Do I need to apply again each financial year?

No. CCS does not require a new application each year — it continues as long as your child is enrolled and you remain eligible. However, you must re-confirm your income estimate at the start of each financial year and keep your activity details current.

Can I apply for CCS before my child starts childcare?

Yes, and it is recommended. You can apply for CCS and submit your income details in advance. Your childcare provider needs to submit an enrolment notice before CCS payments can begin. Applying early avoids delays in your first payment.

How to Apply for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

6 min read Updated 6 March 2026

CCS ExplainedapplyingmyGovCentrelinkenrolment

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is paid directly to your childcare provider to reduce the fees you're charged. Applying involves two main steps: submitting a claim through Centrelink, and then confirming your child's enrolment. Here's the full process.

Step 1: Check You're Eligible

Most families using approved childcare can receive CCS. You generally need to:

Care for a child under 13 who is not in secondary school
Use an approved childcare service (long day care, family day care, OSHC, etc.)
Meet Australian residency requirements
Ensure your child is up to date with immunisations (or has an approved exemption)

The amount of CCS you receive depends primarily on your family income and how much work, study, or other recognised activity you or your partner do each fortnight. Use the calculator below to get an estimate before you apply.

Step 2: Set Up Centrelink in myGov

CCS is managed by Services Australia through Centrelink. Before you can claim, you'll need:

A myGov account (create one at my.gov.au if you don't have one)
Centrelink linked to your myGov account

If you've never used Centrelink before, Services Australia will issue you a Customer Reference Number (CRN) after verifying your identity. This can be done online or at a Services Australia service centre.

Step 3: Submit Your CCS Claim

Once Centrelink is linked to myGov:

Log in to myGov
Open Centrelink
Select Make a claim
Choose Families → Child Care Subsidy

During the claim you'll be asked to provide:

What you'll need	Why it matters
Combined family income estimate for the financial year	Determines your CCS percentage
Details of your work, study or recognised activity	Determines your subsidised hours per fortnight
Your child's details	Confirms eligibility and immunisation status
Your childcare provider's name and address	Links the claim to the correct service

Your income estimate is the most important figure — it directly sets your subsidy percentage for the year. If your actual income turns out to be higher than your estimate, some subsidy may need to be repaid after tax time. See how income estimates affect CCS for more detail.

Apply early. CCS claims can usually only be backdated by up to 28 days, so it's best to lodge your claim before your child's first day of care.

Step 4: Your CCS Assessment

After you submit, Services Australia assesses your claim and determines:

Your CCS percentage — the share of childcare fees the government will subsidise
Your subsidised hours entitlement — how many hours of subsidised care you can use each fortnight

Since January 2026, the 3-Day Guarantee means most families receive at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight, even with lower activity levels. Families with higher activity levels can receive up to 100 hours per fortnight.

Your CCS percentage is based on your family income. You can check where your income sits using the CCS income thresholds guide or run a full estimate in the calculator.

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Step 5: Confirm Your Childcare Enrolment

Once your claim is approved, your childcare provider will submit an enrolment notice through the government system. You must confirm this in myGov before CCS payments can start:

Log in to myGov
Open Centrelink
Go to Child Care
Confirm the enrolment details

This step is easy to miss — CCS cannot be paid until the enrolment is confirmed by you, regardless of when your claim was approved.

Step 6: CCS Reduces Your Fees

Once your enrolment is confirmed:

CCS is paid directly to your childcare provider
Your provider reduces the gap fee you're charged accordingly
You pay only the remaining out-of-pocket amount

The government withholds 5% of your CCS throughout the year as a buffer. This reduces the chance of a debt at balancing time (when your actual income is matched against your estimate after you lodge your tax return). See withholding explained for more.

Things to Know Before You Start

The hourly rate cap
CCS subsidises fees up to a government-set hourly cap for each service type. If your provider charges above the cap, you pay the gap out of pocket — and CCS does not cover it.

Keep your income estimate updated
If your income changes during the year (new job, bonus, partner returning to work), update your estimate in myGov promptly. Outdated estimates are the most common cause of CCS debts at balancing. See when to update your CCS details.

Multiple children
If you have more than one child in childcare, each child gets their own CCS entitlement. Your second and subsequent children may attract a higher CCS rate.

Key Takeaways

Apply through Centrelink in myGov before your child's first day — backdating is limited to 28 days.
Your income estimate sets your CCS rate for the year; update it if your circumstances change.
You must confirm the enrolment in myGov after your provider submits it — CCS won't start until you do.
CCS is paid to your provider, not to you — it reduces the fees you're charged.
The government withholds 5% of CCS to buffer against end-of-year debts.

FAQ

How long does a CCS claim take to process?

Most claims are assessed within a few days, but processing times can vary. If your child is starting care soon, apply as early as possible. CCS backdating is generally limited to 28 days from the date of claim.

Can I apply for CCS if I'm self-employed or run my own business?

Yes. Self-employed parents can meet the activity test through their business activities. Your income estimate should reflect your expected business profit for the year. See CCS for small business owners and sole traders.

What if my child attends more than one childcare service?

Each service requires a separate enrolment confirmation in myGov. Your subsidised hours entitlement is shared across all services, so the total subsidised hours per fortnight remains the same regardless of how many services your child attends.

What happens if I forget to confirm the enrolment?

Your childcare provider may contact you as a reminder, but the responsibility sits with you. Until you confirm, the provider cannot receive CCS payments and may charge you full fees. Log in to myGov and check the Child Care section if you're unsure.

What is the CRN and where do I find it?

Your Customer Reference Number (CRN) is a unique Centrelink identifier. If you've used Centrelink before, your CRN will be on any letters from them. New customers receive it after completing identity verification online at my.gov.au or at a service centre.

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