CCS calculator
Estimate your CCS percentage, subsidy, withholding and out-of-pocket child care cost using current income thresholds and hourly caps.
Estimate only: This is not an official Services Australia assessment. Eligibility, approved sessions, absences, income balancing, ACCS, debts and provider reporting can change the actual amount.
Estimate Child Care Subsidy and your gap fee
Child Care Subsidy reduces the fee families pay an approved child care service. The result depends on family income, whether the child receives the standard or higher rate, the service fee, care type, child age, subsidised hours and withholding.
This calculator models one child and one approved service at a time. It shows both the underlying CCS entitlement and the smaller amount likely paid to the service after withholding, so the immediate gap fee is not confused with the amount that may later be reconciled.
How the CCS estimate is calculated
Work out the CCS percentage
The standard rate starts at 90% and tapers with income. An eligible higher-rate child uses the separate 95%, 80% and 50% bands.
Standard rate = 90% − (income above $88,520 ÷ $5,000)Apply the hourly cap
The subsidy percentage applies to the lower of the service hourly fee and the cap for that care type and age group.
Subsidisable rate = min(hourly fee, hourly cap)Limit subsidised hours
Booked session hours are limited to the entered 72-hour or 100-hour fortnightly entitlement.
Eligible hours = min(booked hours, allowed hours)Separate withholding
Withholding reduces the subsidy paid now but not the modeled underlying entitlement. The family pays the gap plus the withheld amount until balancing.
Paid CCS = entitlement × (1 − withholding rate)Standard and higher CCS rates
| Family income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$88,520 | 90% |
| >$88,520–<$538,520 | Tapers 1% per $5,000 |
| $538,520+ | 0% |
| Family income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0–$146,437 | 95% |
| >$146,437–<$191,437 | 95%→80% |
| $191,437–<$270,727 | 80% |
| $270,727–<$360,727 | 80%→50% |
| $360,727–<$370,727 | 50% |
| $370,727+ | Standard rate |
2026–27 CCS hourly rate caps
When a service hourly fee is above the relevant cap, the amount above the cap is not subsidised. The family pays that excess in addition to the normal percentage gap.
| Care type | Below school | School age |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Based Day Care | $15.19 | $13.30 |
| Outside School Hours Care | $15.19 | $13.30 |
| Family Day Care | $14.08 | $14.08 |
| In Home Care, per family | $41.31 | $41.31 |
Example: $120,000 income and three days a week
A family estimates annual income of $120,000. Their below-school-age standard-rate child attends six 10-hour Centre Based Day Care sessions per fortnight at $150 per session.
The hourly fee is $15, below the $15.19 cap. The standard CCS rate is approximately 83.70%. Sixty booked hours are within the 72-hour entitlement. Before withholding, the estimated fortnightly subsidy is $753.34. With 5% withheld, about $715.67 is paid to the service and the immediate family fee is about $184.33.
- 190% − (($120,000 − $88,520) ÷ $5,000)Estimated standard CCS rate: 83.70%
- 2$150 ÷ 10 = $15/hourBelow the $15.19 hourly cap
- 360 hours × $15 × 83.704%CCS entitlement before withholding: $753.34
- 4$900 − ($753.34 × 95%)Estimated immediate family payment: $184.33
72-hour guarantee and 100-hour entitlement
hours per fortnight
CCS-eligible families can access at least 72 subsidised hours per child each fortnight under the 3 Day Guarantee.
hours per fortnight
Families can receive 100 hours when the lower-participation parent does more than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight, or an exemption or other qualifying circumstance applies.
The calculator limits subsidy to the selected hours. It does not determine eligibility for 100 hours—use the hours shown on your Services Australia assessment.
Australian Government settings used
CCS calculator FAQ
What is Child Care Subsidy?
Child Care Subsidy is an Australian Government payment made to approved child care services to reduce eligible families’ fees. Services Australia determines eligibility, percentage and subsidised hours.
How is the CCS percentage calculated?
For 2026–27, the standard rate is 90% up to $88,520 of family income, then decreases continuously by 1 percentage point for each $5,000 above that amount until reaching 0% at $538,520.
Who can receive the higher CCS rate?
Families with more than one CCS-eligible child aged 5 or younger in care may receive a higher rate for the second and younger children. Services Australia applies detailed standard-rate-child and higher-rate-child rules automatically.
Does the higher CCS rate apply to In Home Care?
No. In Home Care is subsidised per family rather than per child and does not attract the higher subsidy. The calculator automatically uses the standard rate when In Home Care is selected.
What is the CCS hourly rate cap?
It is the maximum hourly fee amount to which the CCS percentage can apply. If the service fee is higher than the cap, the family pays the entire amount above the cap plus the normal percentage gap.
How do I calculate the service hourly fee?
Divide the full session fee by the number of hours in that booked session. Use the booked session length reported by the provider, which may differ from actual attendance time.
How many subsidised hours can families receive?
From 5 January 2026, eligible families can receive at least 72 hours per child each fortnight. Families can receive 100 hours when participation, exemption or other qualifying rules apply.
Why is 5% of CCS withheld?
Services Australia generally withholds 5% to reduce the risk of an overpayment when family income is balanced after the financial year. Families can have a different withholding setting, so the calculator makes it editable.
Does the withheld amount increase my current gap fee?
Yes. Withholding reduces the amount paid to the service now, so the immediate family payment is higher. Any remaining withheld amount may be reconciled after income balancing, subject to debts or adjustments.
Does this calculator cover Additional Child Care Subsidy?
No. ACCS categories can use different rates and conditions. This calculator models ordinary standard and higher Child Care Subsidy only.
Does CCS cover every booked hour?
Only up to the subsidised hours available on the family assessment and subject to provider session reporting. The calculator treats booked hours above the selected 72 or 100 hours as unsubsidised.
Is this an official Centrelink calculator?
No. It is an independent educational estimator based on published 2026–27 settings. Check your Centrelink or myGov assessment and provider statement for official figures.