Categories
CCS Eligibility CCS News CCS Rates

CCS Family eligibility and entitlement from July 2024 (FY2024-2025)

The Australian Government Department of Education published the 2024–2025 (FY25) CCS family eligibility and entitlement information including the CCS rates & CCS hourly rate caps. Families can use the CCS Calculator at www.childcaresubsidycalculator.com.au to find out what their future rates may be.

Who can get CCS?

Families must meet eligibility criteria to get CCS.

Parents must:

  • care for their child at least 2 nights per fortnight or have 14% share of care
  • be liable for child care fees at an approved child care service
  • meet residency requirements.

Their child must:

  • meet immunisation requirements
  • not be attending secondary school (unless an exemption applies)
  • be 13 or under (except in certain circumstances).

If a child doesn’t attend a session of care at least once in 26 consecutive weeks, they will stop being eligible for CCS. If a child starts to attend care again, a family can make a new claim for CCS.

How much CCS can a family get?

The amount of CCS a family can get depends on their circumstances.

The family income limit to get CCS is increasing to $533,280.

CCS rates from 8 July 2024

Family incomeSubsidy rate
$0 to $83,28090%
More than $83,280 to below $533,280Decreasing from 90% The percentage decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns 
$533,280 or more0%

Number of children in care 

Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care can get a higher subsidy for their second child and younger children.  

The rates for each child are worked out using two separate income tests.

The ‘standard rate child’ is usually the eldest CCS eligible child aged 5 or under. The standard rate child will get the standard CCS rates.

The ‘higher rate child’ is the second and any younger children aged 5 or under. The higher rate for second and younger children is calculated using the for second and younger children.

The higher subsidy for second and younger children will end when a family earns $362,408 or more.

Rates for second and younger children from 8 July 2024

Family income  Second and younger children subsidy rate
$0 to $141,32195%
More than $141,321 to below $186,321Decreasing from 95%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns 
$186,321 to below $265,61180%
$265,611 to below $355,611Decreasing from 80%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns
$355,611 to below $365,61150%
$365,611 or moreHigher CCS rates no longer apply, all children in the family will receive the standard CCS rate

2024–25 hourly rate caps

Care typeHourly rate cap
for children below school age		Hourly rate cap
for school-age children
Centre Based Day Care$14.29$12.51
Outside School Hours Care$14.29$12.51
Family Day Care$13.24$13.24
In Home Care (per family)$38.87$38.87
Categories
ACCS CCS Eligibility

Establishing Eligibility for ACCS Child Wellbeing

Establishing eligibility for ACCS child wellbeing

If you identify a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect at your service, they may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) child wellbeing.

Unlike other subsidies, providers apply on behalf of a family. There are important steps to take to ensure the family can get the subsidy. Families may miss out on payments if they delay claiming CCS or are not aware of the immunisation requirements.

CCS eligibility

Families can only get ACCS child wellbeing once they’ve:

  • lodged a CCS claim, and
  • been assessed as CCS eligible.

Services Australia can only backdate payments up to 28 days before the family lodged their successful claim. Families can lodge a CCS claim via their Centrelink online account.

Immunisation requirements

Children must meet immunisation requirements to be eligible for CCS. If a child does not meet the immunisation requirements, the claim will not be approved. The family will need to make a new claim once the child has met the immunisation requirements.

When to use a Provider Eligible Arrangement

In the rare case that you cannot identify a CCS-eligible parent or carer, you – the provider – may be able to get the subsidy on behalf of the child. This is known as a provider eligible arrangement or ‘PEA’. A PEA enables Services Australia to pay the subsidy directly to you. It can only be used in very limited circumstances.

Find detailed guidance about establishing eligibility for ACCS child wellbeing on our website.

Categories
CCS News OSHC

OSHC for Preschool Children from 22 July 2024

Previously, an OSHC service must provide care primarily to school aged children.

From 22 July 2024, OSHC services can also provide care primarily to preschool aged children either side of preschool sessions.

This means families can get CCS for care provided before and after preschool, for children who attend a preschool program. It will provide families with preschool children more options for affordable before-and-after hours care to help meet families’ needs. Preschool programs are delivered to children in the year before they start full-time school.

To be eligible to provide preschool OSHC, the care provided must differ from a preschool service. Some of the key factors we consider include:

  • Type of care program delivered. An OSHC service should not deliver the same type of educational program to the preschool service.
  • Hours of operation. Preschool and OSHC services must be separate.
  • Staffing. Roles and duties performed by staff can be clearly distinguished.

Providers who want to establish a preschool OSHC as will need to:

  • Obtain approval from their state or territory regulatory authority to operate a Centre Based Day Care service at the preschool premises. This must be a separate approval where the preschool OSHC provider is the same as the preschool provider.
  • Apply for CCS approval for the new OSHC service.

Find out more and read examples on our website at Outside School Hours Care.

Categories
CCS News CCS Rates

Child Care Subsidy hourly rate caps from July 2024

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) hourly rate caps will go up from 8 July 2024.

The hourly rate caps are adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The maximum hourly rate we subsidise is based on the type of approved care. The 2024–25 (FY25) hourly rate caps for each care type are outlined below.

Care typeHourly rate cap
for children below school age		Hourly rate cap
for school-age children
Centre Based Day Care$14.29$12.51
Outside School Hours Care$14.29$12.51
Family Day Care$13.24$13.24
In Home Care (per family)$38.87$38.87
Child Care Subsidy hourly rate caps from July 2024

You can find more detailed from the Family eligibility and entitlement page published by the Department of Education.