What does child care actually cost you?
Enter family income, care type, fee and days. Applies the 2025-26 income taper and hourly rate caps, the activity-test entitlement, and shows weekly plus annual out-of-pocket.
Interactive CCS estimator
Estimate your Child Care Subsidy percentage, weekly out-of-pocket cost, and what the rate cap leaves uncovered.
Your estimate lodged with Centrelink for the year.
Rate cap for this care type is $14.63/h.
Estimated out-of-pocket per week
$128.79
78% CCS rate, capped at $14.63/h — subsidy covers $359.46/week
CCS percentage
78%
Tapers 1% per $5,000 of income
Hours covered
31.5h/wk
Entitlement 72h/fortnight
Annual out-of-pocket
$6,697
$18,692/yr subsidised
Estimator only — actual entitlement depends on your Centrelink income estimate, provider session reports, immunisation and residency rules, and reconciliation at year end. General information, not advice.
Income taper: 90% up to $85,279, −1% per $5,000
Rate caps by care type (CBDC, FDC, OSHC, IHC)
Activity-test entitlement and out-of-pocket total
The rate cap is where estimates go wrong
CCS pays your percentage of the lower of the hourly fee and the government cap — $14.63/h for centre-based care in 2025-26. Services charging above the cap leave you funding the difference at any subsidy level.
Second-child rates and the activity test
A second child under five can attract up to 95% under roughly $141k family income — Centrelink applies it automatically. From January 2026 the 3-day guarantee gives every eligible family at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight; more than 48h of activity lifts it to 100.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my actual subsidy different?
- Your entitlement is worked out against your Centrelink income estimate and actual session reports, then reconciled at year end. Higher rates for second children and ACCS top-ups are not modelled.
- Does it include the withholding amount?
- No — Services Australia withholds 5% of your subsidy to reduce reconciliation debt. Real out-of-pocket is a touch higher than this estimate shows.
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