The amount of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) a family can get depends on their income.
CCS is designed to help low and middle-income families the most.
On this page:
CCS family income brackets
The Australian Government will subsidise a percentage of a family’s child care fees or the hourly rate cap, whichever is lower. The amount the government subsidises is based on a family’s combined annual income.
The following are the CCS family income thresholds for 2020–21:
| CSS family income thresholds^ | Subsidy % |
|---|---|
| Up to $69,390 | 85 % |
| More than $69,390 to below $174,390 | Decreasing to 50 % |
| $174,390 to below $253,680 | 50 % |
| $253,680 to below $343,680 | Decreasing to 20 % |
| $343,680 to below $353,680 | 20 % |
| $353,680 or more | 0 % |
^ These amounts are correct for 2020–21 and may be adjusted through indexation in subsequent years.
*Subsidy gradually decreases by 1 per cent for each $3000 of family income.
Families can get an estimate of what they may be entitled to on Services Australia’s Payment and Service Finder.
Annual cap
Families earning more than $189,390 (2020-21) and under $353,680 have a subsidy cap of $10,560 per year, per child.
Families earning $189,390 or less per year do not have their CCS capped.
From July 2022, we’re removing this annual cap.
Find out more about the removal of the annual cap.
Other factors
Two other factors determine a family's level of CCS: