Child Care Subsidy: standard rate and hours

For 2026–27, standard Child Care Subsidy is 90% for adjusted family income up to $88,520. It reduces by one percentage point per $5,000 above that amount, reaching zero at $538,520. Fractional reductions apply; rates are rounded to two decimal places.

Fee caps and subsidised hours

Our calculator models centre-based care for a child below school age, with a $15.19 hourly cap. The subsidy applies to the lower of the provider fee and that cap. Other care types and school-age children have different caps.

Since 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee gives eligible families at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight. Some qualify for 100 hours through participation or other criteria. Our tool models 72 hours, spread evenly as 36 hours each week. Hours above this are charged at the full provider fee in the estimate.

Example before withholding

At $150,000 adjusted family income, the standard rate is 77.70%. For a $14.50 hourly session fee, the subsidy is $11.2665 per subsidised hour. A 10-hour session therefore has an estimated gap of $32.34 before withholding, provided it falls within the subsidised hours.

Services Australia normally withholds 5% of CCS during the year. This can increase the amount payable to the provider before balancing. Our displayed gaps exclude withholding. Higher CCS for additional eligible young children, 100-hour entitlements and other care types are also excluded.

Read the Department of Education CCS guidance and use the CCS calculator for the model described here.