To receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families must meet several eligibility requirements.
Basic eligibility includes:
The child is 13 years or under and not attending secondary school, unless an exemption applies.
The family uses an approved child care service.
The family is responsible for paying the child care fees.
The parent or partner meets residence and immunisation requirements.
For more detailed information about the CCS changes and how they might apply to your specific circumstances, we encourage you to visit the Australian Government website.
From 5 January 2026, the activity test is being replaced so that all CCS-eligible families receive at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight. This is known as the 3 Day Guarantee.
You can still receive up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight if either applies:
You and your partner, if you have one, each complete more than 48 hours of recognised participation every fortnight; or
You have a valid exemption.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can receive 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
You’ll still pay a gap fee/out-of-pocket cost to your provider, based on your CCS percentage.
Already receiving CCS? You don’t need to do anything—the changes will be applied to your CCS automatically.
Use the Child Care Subsidy Calculator or visit the Services Australia Website for more details.
