Work out your Child Care Subsidy percentage and what you'll pay for care in 2026-27, from your family income, the daily fee and how many days your child attends.
Key facts
- For 2026-27, families earning up to $88,520 get 90% Child Care Subsidy; it falls by 1% for every $5,000 of income above that, reaching 0% at $538,520.
- Second and younger children aged 5 or under can get up to 95% if family income is under $370,727.
- The subsidy is the CCS percentage of the lower of your hourly fee and the hourly rate cap: $15.19 for long day care below school age.
- From 5 January 2026 every eligible family gets at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight per child, or 100 if both parents do more than 48 hours of recognised participation.
- 5% of the subsidy is withheld until the year is balanced.
How it's worked out
- Your CCS percentage: 90% up to $88,520 of family income, then 90 minus (income − $88,520) ÷ 5,000, rounded to two decimal places.
- Subsidy an hour: that percentage of your hourly fee (daily fee ÷ session hours) or the hourly rate cap, whichever is lower.
- Subsidised hours: the hours of care booked each fortnight, up to 72 or 100.
- Out-of-pocket (the gap fee): fees less the subsidy. 5% of the subsidy is withheld and paid after the year is balanced.
CCS percentage by family income
| Family income | Standard rate | Higher rate (second and younger children 5 or under) |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | 90.00% | 95.00% |
| $100,000 | 87.70% | 95.00% |
| $120,000 | 83.70% | 95.00% |
| $150,000 | 77.70% | 93.81% |
| $180,000 | 71.70% | 83.81% |
| $200,000 | 67.70% | 80.00% |
| $250,000 | 57.70% | 80.00% |
| $300,000 | 47.70% | 70.24% |
| $350,000 | 37.70% | 53.58% |
| $400,000 | 27.70% | 27.70% |
| $500,000 | 7.70% | 7.70% |
Hourly rate caps 2026-27
| Type of care | Hourly rate cap |
|---|---|
| Centre-based day care (long day care), below school age | $15.19 |
| Centre-based day care, school age | $13.30 |
| Outside school hours care, below school age | $15.19 |
| Outside school hours care, school age | $13.30 |
| Family day care | $14.08 |
| In home care (per family) | $41.31 |
From 6 July 2026. Caps are indexed each July.
Common questions
How much Child Care Subsidy will I get?
Your CCS percentage depends on family income: 90% up to $88,520, falling by 1% per $5,000 above that. The subsidy is that percentage of your hourly fee or the hourly rate cap, whichever is lower, for up to 72 or 100 hours a fortnight.
What is the CCS income limit?
Families earning $538,520 or more get 0%. Below that, every family gets some subsidy.
What is the higher CCS rate?
Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care can get a higher rate for the second and younger children: 95% up to $146,437, falling to 80% and then 50%, and ending at $370,727.
What is the hourly rate cap?
The most the subsidy is worked out on, per hour. For 2026-27 it's $15.19 for centre-based day care below school age and $14.08 for family day care. If your fee is higher, you pay the difference in full.
How many hours of child care are subsidised?
At least 72 hours a fortnight for each child from 5 January 2026, or 100 if you and your partner each do more than 48 hours of recognised participation a fortnight, have an exemption, or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
See also the Family Tax Benefit calculator and all Centrelink payment rates.
Sources: Services Australia, Your income can affect Child Care Subsidy, Recognised participation and How much CCS you can get; Department of Social Services Family Assistance Guide 1.1.A.70 and 3.5.3. Checked 21 October 2026. An estimate only; Additional Child Care Subsidy, session rounding and provider discounts aren't included.