Our 2025 CCS Calculator provides an estimate of your child care subsidy and calculates your out-of-pocket costs, based on your family circumstances.
This tool provides a quick and easy way to understand your potential subsidy entitlements.
Simply input your information and receive an estimate of your childcare subsidy entitlements today.
Please note that our calculator is not affiliated with Centrelink but was created by a third-party source. These results are an estimate and could change depending on changes to personal circumstance, the daily fee, or entitlements.
For more information regarding CCS, funded kinder or Aspire fees and support, contact our team on 1800 978 429 or enquire online.
How is CCS calculated?
Here is an example of a CCS calculation with steps listed below.
Please note that until actual information is entered into the CCS Calculator, the following calculations are based on the following entitlements. Any actual information entered into the CCS Calculator will replace the relevant details in these assumptions.
CCS% - 90% | Fortnightly CCS Hours - 100 | Days attended per week - 1
Daily Fee - $170 | Session Hours - 12
1. Work out the hourly fee
For a daily fee of $170 for a 12-hour session, the hourly fee is calculated as follows
$170 ÷ 12 = $14.17
2. Work out the lower of the hourly fee and the hourly CCS rate cap
In this case, the hourly CCS rate cap is $14.29, which is higher than the hourly fee of $14.17.
This means the CCS will be calculated based on the hourly fee of $14.17.
3. Work out the hourly CCS amount
Since the CCS rate is 90%, the hourly CCS amount is determined as follows:
$14.17 × 90% = $12.75
4. Work out the weekly CCS amount
With eligibility for 50 hours of subsidy per week, the one, 12-hour session per week will be covered under CCS. The weekly CCS entitlement amount is calculated as follows
$12.75 × 12 = $153
5. Work out the weekly withholding amount
With a withholding percentage of 5%, the weekly withholding amount is calculated as follows:
$153 × 5% = $7.53
6. Work out the weekly CCS paid to the service provider
The weekly CCS paid to the service provider is determined as follows:
$153-7.53= $145.47
7. Work out the weekly out-of-pocket cost (also known as the gap fee)
The weekly out-of-pocket childcare cost (gap fee) is calculated as follows:
$170 × 1 − $145.47 = $24.53 per week
Childcare Subsidy FAQ's
What is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
As a recognised childcare provider, we are registered for the Government Childcare Subsidy (CCS). Child Care Subsidy is assistance from the Australian Government to help families with the cost of child care.
How does the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) work?
The Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to providers to be passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families will make a co-contribution to their child care fees and pay to the provider the difference between the fee charged and the subsidised amount.
To get CCS you must:
- care for a child 13 or younger who’s not attending secondary school, unless an exemption applies
- use an approved child care service
- be responsible for paying the child care fees
- meet residency and immunisation requirements.
You need to meet some requirements to get Child Care Subsidy. You may be eligible if you or your partner meet all of the following:
- care for your child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care
- are liable for fees for care provided at an approved child care service
- meet the residence rules.
- Your child must also meet immunisation requirements.
How much CCS am I eligible for?
To determine what your CCS might be you can use our Online Subsidy Calculator.
To work out how much CCS you’re eligible for, the following will be reviewed:
- your family’s income
- the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age
- the hours of activity you and your partner do
- the number of children in your care
How do I claim CCS?
Simply head to the Services Australia Website and follow the CCS application step-by-step guide.
You need to link your myGov account to Centrelink to make your claim. If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can apply online.
To do this:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Make a claim or view claim status, then Make a claim.
- Under Families select Get started.
- Select Apply for Family Assistance Payments (including Paid Parental Leave) then follow the prompts to complete your claim.
When should I apply for CCS
To ensure your child is ready to commence care on your desired start date, we recommend that families check eligibility and lodge a CCS claim with Services Australia in advance, as claims can take up to 8 weeks to be processed.
If your child starts at a service before you have lodged a claim, or while the claim is being assessed, you will be charged full fees. If your family is assessed as eligible, CCS can be backdated up to 28 days. Backdated CCS will be paid directly to you.
What is the CCS activity test?
Your CCS rate is also influenced by how much care you need, which is based on your activity level (like work, study, or volunteering). The more hours of care you need, the higher your subsidy rate.
What is the CCS income test?
The amount of subsidy you receive is based on your combined family’s income. The higher your income, the lower the subsidy rate you’ll get.
Is there any extra support I can recieve?
In addition to the standard Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families facing specific challenges may be eligible for extra government support through Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS). This provides higher levels of assistance to ensure children can access care when they need it most.
Can I claim CCS and funded kinder?
Families can receive both the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and funded kindergarten payments together in eligible child care services.
At Aspire, we offer the government-funded kindergarten programs (for 3- and 4-year-olds), you can claim CCS for the care hours outside of the funded kindergarten session (The government pays for 15 hours). This helps reduce costs while ensuring your child receives high-quality early education.
How will I receive CCS payments?
At Aspire, subsidies are paid directly to us, and we pass them on to you as a fee reduction. This means you only need to pay the difference between the subsidy and the childcare fees charged, ensuring a seamless and straightforward process for managing your daycare costs.
Changes to the Child Care Subsidy
From 8 July 2024 the CCS hourly rate caps and family income thresholds will go up in line with CPI, which is positive news for families.
Centre Based Daycare
The hourly rate cap for children below school age is increasing to $14.29
Family Income
Up to $83,280
The family income threshold will increase to $83,280 for 90% subsidy rate
$83,280 - $533,280
Decreasing from 90%. The % decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns
$533,280 or more
0%
