What is the Child Care Subsidy?

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australian families are able to access affordable, flexible and high quality child care. The Government provides a number of subsidies and programs to help with the cost of child care, with the Child Care Subsidy being the main type of assistance that most families will use.

To be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy the following requirements must be met:

- be a ‘Family Tax Benefit child’ or ‘regular care child’ and
- be 13 or under and not attending secondary school and
- meet immunisation requirements

- meet residency requirements and
- be liable to pay for care provided under a Complying Written Arrangement

(their written agreement) with their child care provider

compulsory education program, for example school.
There are exemptions for individuals who genuinely cannot meet some eligibility requirements.

The level of subsidy a family receives will depend on three factors:

The table below outlines combined family income and relevant rate of Child Care Subsidy to which
families will be entitled.

Up to $66,958^
More than $66,958^ to below $171,958^
$171,958^ to below $251,248^
$251,248^ to below $341,248
$341,248^ to below $351,248^
$351,248^ or more

85 per cent
Decreasing to 50 per cent*
50 per cent
Decreasing to 20 per cent*
20 per cent
0 per cent

Combined family income Subsidy

Subsidy per cent of the actual fee charged

(up to relevant percentage of the hourly rate cap)

^These amounts are correct for 2018-19 and will be subject to adjustment through indexation in subsequent years.
*Subsidy gradually decreases by 1 per cent for each $3000 increase in family income.
The amount of subsidy a family receives will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the hourly fee charged or the applicable hourly rate cap, whichever is lower (see hourly caps under Service type below).

The number of hours of subsidised child care to which a family will be entitled will depend on how much time parents spend undertaking recognised activities, for example work, training, volunteering or study.

The Child Care Subsidy activity test takes into account both parents’ (if applicable) activities, however, the maximum hours a family will receive will be based on the person with the lowest level of activity. A broad range of activities will meet the activity test requirements.

For people with irregular work hours, such as casual employment, an estimate can be used based on the highest number of hours they expect to work in any one fortnight over a three-month period.

There is a three-step activity test to calculate how many hours to which a family will be entitled.

Step

Hours of activity (per fortnight)

Maximum number of hours of subsidy

(per fortnight)

1

2

3 8 hours to 16 hours

More than 16 hours to 48 hours

More than 48 hours

36 hours

72 hours

100 hours

There is an hourly rate cap for each hour of child care provided which differs depending on the type of approved child care service used.
Where a child care provider charges less than the hourly rate cap, a family’s subsidy will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the actual fee charged.

If a child care provider charges more than the hourly rate cap, a family’s subsidy will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the relevant hourly rate cap.

If a family uses:

Hourly rate cap
(children below school age)

Hourly rate cap
(school aged children)

Centre Based Day Care

Outside School Hours Care
Family Day Care
In Home Care

$11.77
$11.77
$10.90
$32.00 (per family)

$10.29
$10.29
$10.90
$32.00 (per family)

These hourly rate caps are correct for 2018-19 and will be subject to adjustment through indexation
in subsequent years.

If a family earns $186,958 (in 2018-19) or less, they will not have an annual cap on their Child Care Subsidy each financial year.
If a family earns more than $186,958 and less than $351,248, child care costs will be subsidised up to an annual cap of $10,190 per child each financial year. The annual cap will be increased each year.

Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to child care providers to pass on to families as a fee reduction so that their fees are reduced at the time they use child care.

Families will pay their provider the difference between their subsidy and the fees charged.

Families will not be able to elect to receive their subsidy as a lump sum at the end of the financial year.

Families will need to make a claim for Child Care Subsidy when (or before) each child starts attending care.

Any Child Care Subsidy owed to families following the end of year reconciliation process will be paid directly to families as a lump sum. If a family has been overpaid Child Care Subsidy during the year the family may have to repay some Child Care Subsidy (a debt).

If a family earns $351,248 (in 2018-19) or more per year, they will not be entitled to any Child Care Subsidy. However, high income families who are not certain of their combined family income for the year ahead, are encouraged to make a claim for Child Care Subsidy. This maintains their eligibility for Child Care Subsidy throughout the year and will ensure they receive entitlement if their actual income at the end of the financial year ends up being below $351,248.

Child Care Subsidy withholding is designed to help families avoid or minimise debts at reconciliation, which could occur due to changes in circumstances throughout the year (for example, changes to family incomes or activities).
Parents can request their percentage of withholding be adjusted up or down through Centrelink.

However, withholding is important as it helps protect families from possible debts.

After reconciliation any outstanding subsidy is returned to the family.
Five per cent of all families’ Child Care Subsidy will be withheld by the Government, however, withholding will not apply to Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

The Additional Child Care Subsidy is a top up payment in addition to the Child Care Subsidy which will provide targeted additional fee assistance to families and children who need extra support.
The Additional Child Care Subsidy has four elements:

education.gov.au/eccc

humanservices.gov.au/childcaresubsidy

What is the Child Care Subsidy?

To be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy the following requirements must be met:

the child must

- be a ‘Family Tax Benefit child’ or ‘regular care child’ and - be 13 or under and not attending secondary school and - meet immunisation requirements

the person claiming the Child Care Subsidy, or their partner, must

- meet residency requirements and - be liable to pay for care provided under a Complying Written Arrangement

(their written agreement) with their child care provider

child care must be provided by an approved provider in Australia and not be part of a

compulsory education program, for example school. There are exemptions for individuals who genuinely cannot meet some eligibility requirements.

The level of subsidy a family receives will depend on three factors:

Income – a family’s (both partners) combined income

Activity test – what activities the individual and their partner undertake or exemptions that might apply and

Service type – the type of approved child care service used, for example Centre Based Day Care.

The table below outlines combined family income and relevant rate of Child Care Subsidy to which families will be entitled.

Up to $66,958^ More than $66,958^ to below $171,958^ $171,958^ to below $251,248^ $251,248^ to below $341,248 $341,248^ to below $351,248^ $351,248^ or more

85 per cent Decreasing to 50 per cent* 50 per cent Decreasing to 20 per cent* 20 per cent 0 per cent

Combined family income Subsidy

Subsidy per cent of the actual fee charged

(up to relevant percentage of the hourly rate cap)

The number of hours of subsidised child care to which a family will be entitled will depend on how much time parents spend undertaking recognised activities, for example work, training, volunteering or study.

The Child Care Subsidy activity test takes into account both parents’ (if applicable) activities, however, the maximum hours a family will receive will be based on the person with the lowest level of activity. A broad range of activities will meet the activity test requirements.

For people with irregular work hours, such as casual employment, an estimate can be used based on the highest number of hours they expect to work in any one fortnight over a three-month period.

There is a three-step activity test to calculate how many hours to which a family will be entitled.

Step

Hours of activity (per fortnight)

Maximum number of hours of subsidy

(per fortnight)

1

2

3

8 hours to 16 hours

More than 16 hours to 48 hours

More than 48 hours

36 hours

72 hours

100 hours

There is an hourly rate cap for each hour of child care provided which differs depending on the type of approved child care service used. Where a child care provider charges less than the hourly rate cap, a family’s subsidy will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the actual fee charged.

If a child care provider charges more than the hourly rate cap, a family’s subsidy will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the relevant hourly rate cap.

If a family uses:

Hourly rate cap (children below school age)

Hourly rate cap (school aged children)

Centre Based Day Care

Outside School Hours Care Family Day Care In Home Care

$11.77 $11.77 $10.90 $32.00 (per family)

$10.29 $10.29 $10.90 $32.00 (per family)

These hourly rate caps are correct for 2018-19 and will be subject to adjustment through indexation in subsequent years.

Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to child care providers to pass on to families as a fee reduction so that their fees are reduced at the time they use child care.

Families will pay their provider the difference between their subsidy and the fees charged.

Families will not be able to elect to receive their subsidy as a lump sum at the end of the financial year.

Families will need to make a claim for Child Care Subsidy when (or before) each child starts attending care.

Any Child Care Subsidy owed to families following the end of year reconciliation process will be paid directly to families as a lump sum. If a family has been overpaid Child Care Subsidy during the year the family may have to repay some Child Care Subsidy (a debt).

However, withholding is important as it helps protect families from possible debts.

After reconciliation any outstanding subsidy is returned to the family. Five per cent of all families’ Child Care Subsidy will be withheld by the Government, however, withholding will not apply to Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

The Additional Child Care Subsidy is a top up payment in addition to the Child Care Subsidy which will provide targeted additional fee assistance to families and children who need extra support. The Additional Child Care Subsidy has four elements:

child wellbeing

grandparents

temporary financial hardship

transition to work.

Visit the Department of Education and Training Child Care Package website at

education.gov.au/eccc

Visit the Department of Human Services Child Care Subsidy website

humanservices.gov.au/childcaresubsidy

- be a ‘Family Tax Benefit child’ or ‘regular care child’ and
- be 13 or under and not attending secondary school and
- meet immunisation requirements

- meet residency requirements and
- be liable to pay for care provided under a Complying Written Arrangement

compulsory education program, for example school.
There are exemptions for individuals who genuinely cannot meet some eligibility requirements.

The table below outlines combined family income and relevant rate of Child Care Subsidy to which
families will be entitled.

Up to $66,958^
More than $66,958^ to below $171,958^
$171,958^ to below $251,248^
$251,248^ to below $341,248
$341,248^ to below $351,248^
$351,248^ or more

85 per cent
Decreasing to 50 per cent*
50 per cent
Decreasing to 20 per cent*
20 per cent
0 per cent

There is an hourly rate cap for each hour of child care provided which differs depending on the type of approved child care service used.
Where a child care provider charges less than the hourly rate cap, a family’s subsidy will be their Child Care Subsidy percentage of the actual fee charged.

Hourly rate cap
(children below school age)

Hourly rate cap
(school aged children)

Outside School Hours Care
Family Day Care
In Home Care

$11.77
$11.77
$10.90
$32.00 (per family)

$10.29
$10.29
$10.90
$32.00 (per family)

These hourly rate caps are correct for 2018-19 and will be subject to adjustment through indexation
in subsequent years.

After reconciliation any outstanding subsidy is returned to the family.
Five per cent of all families’ Child Care Subsidy will be withheld by the Government, however, withholding will not apply to Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

The Additional Child Care Subsidy is a top up payment in addition to the Child Care Subsidy which will provide targeted additional fee assistance to families and children who need extra support.
The Additional Child Care Subsidy has four elements: