Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is accessed through Centrelink and helps families by reducing the cost of early childhood education and care (ECEC). The CCS is applied for by the parent/carer themselves via myGov or the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
Who is eligible:
Parents/ carers must meet Services Australia eligibility requirements, including residency and immunisation requirements, to receive this support, including:
- their child is using an approved childcare service, including long day care ,occasional care and family day care
- their child meets the immunisation requirements
- the parent/carer meets the residency rules.
What is available:
CCS is paid directly to the ECEC service, and the subsidy is passed on to families as a reduction in their childcare fees.
The amount of CCS a family receives depends on their circumstances. This includes family income, the number of children in their care, their age, whether the family identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and the type of care the family uses.
From January 2026, all CCS eligible families receive a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (approximately 3 days per week), regardless of parental activity levels.
Families can get an estimate of what they may be entitled to using this Child Care Subsidy Calculator on Starting Blocks.
How to access:
Parents/carers need to make direct contact with Services Australia to apply by:
- creating a myGov account (if they don’t already have one) and link it to Centrelink
- being able to prove their identity (this can be done over the phone, online or in person)
- providing supporting documents, such as the childproof of birth and immunisation records.
Parents/carers are encouraged to apply for CCS before a child commences in an ECEC service. This allows the subsidy to be applied from the child’s first day of care.
If a parent/carer applies after a child commences, payment can only be backdated for up to 28 days before the claim was made.
Resources
- More information about CCS is available on the Services Australia website.
- Starting Blocks provides helpful information for families about CCS
- Centrelink Families Line: 136 150-support with Centrelink family payments, including CCS
- CCS Help Desk: Services Australia provides a CCS Help Desk to support childcare providers and services. The Help Desk can be contacted on 1300 667 276, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (AEDT)
- New and existing foster and kinship carers (where there is child protection involvement) can contact the DFFH Care support Help Desk for assistance with proof of birth documentation.
