How much will childcare actually cost your family — after the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)? Get an estimate in 30 seconds, with the higher subsidy for second and additional children built in.
Uses Services Australia’s current CCS formula including the activity test, income-tested percentage, hourly rate caps, and the higher CCS for families with multiple children under 5.
Child Care Subsidy Estimator
Estimate your CCS percentage and weekly out-of-pocket childcare cost.
Family details
The care
Three steps, thirty seconds
Family details
Combined income, lower-earner’s activity hours per fortnight, and number of children in care.
The care
Type of care (centre, FDC, OSHC, in-home), daily fee, hours per day, and days per week.
See your real cost
Your CCS percentage, subsidised hours, weekly subsidy, and out-of-pocket — per week and per year.
The three factors that set your subsidy
| Factor | How it works |
|---|---|
| 1. Family income | Up to $83,280: 90% CCS. Above that, drops 1% for each $5,000 of income, reaching 0% at $533,280. |
| 2. Activity test | The lower-earning parent’s hours of work/study/volunteering determine how many subsidised hours/fortnight you get: 0-8 hrs → 0 (or 24 if income below $83,280); 8-16 → 36; 16-48 → 72; 48+ → 100. |
| 3. Hourly rate cap | CCS only applies up to the hourly cap for your care type. Centre: $14.29/hr; FDC: $13.24/hr; OSHC: $12.51/hr; In-home: $38.87/hr. Anything above the cap is full out-of-pocket. |
| Bonus: Higher CCS (2+ kids) | Families with two or more children aged under 5 in care get an additional 30% CCS for the second and subsequent children (capped at 95%). Income limit of $362,408 applies. |
Questions we hear a lot
How accurate is this estimate?
It’s a directional estimate using current CCS thresholds, the activity test, and hourly rate caps. Your final entitlement is determined by Services Australia based on your actual adjusted taxable income and verified circumstances. Most families find the estimate within ~10% of their actual CCS.
What counts as “activity”?
Paid work (including breaks and leave), self-employment, unpaid work in a family business, looking for work, training and study, unpaid work experience, voluntary work, setting up a business. The lower-earning parent’s hours generally determine the activity tier.
What’s the higher CCS for second children?
Since March 2022, families with two or more children aged under 5 in subsidised care get an extra 30% CCS for the second and subsequent children (capped at 95% total). Income limit of $362,408 applies. This significantly reduces out-of-pocket for larger families.
How does CCS actually get paid?
CCS is paid directly to your childcare provider, reducing the fee you pay. You’ll see your subsidy applied on your invoice. Services Australia withholds 5% by default to reduce reconciliation debts at tax time — you can adjust this in your MyGov account.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere. The tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to Trinity or Services Australia, no signup, no email capture.
What if my fee is above the hourly cap?
CCS only applies up to the cap. If your centre charges $155/day for 10 hours ($15.50/hr) and the cap is $14.29, you pay 100% of the $1.21/hour difference, plus your CCS contribution on the rest.
Can I claim CCS if I work from home?
Yes — working from home counts as activity. You can claim CCS even with a stay-at-home parent as long as the lower-earner’s activity hours qualify (or income is below the threshold for the safety net).
