Author: CCSC

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CCS Eligibility

Residence rules for Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

To be eligible for Child Care Subsidy you must meet the residence rules.

On the day you claim, you or your partner must be living in Australia and also have one of the following:

  • Australian citizenship
  • a permanent visa
  • a Special Category visa
  • a certain temporary visa that is partner provisional or temporary protection type visa.

Special Category visa (SCV)

You’ll generally get a Special Category visa (SCV) if you came to Australia on a New Zealand passport, and you didn’t apply for a visa first. The type of SCV you get depends on when you arrived in Australia.

Temporary protection type visas

If you hold a temporary protection type visa, you can claim some payments and concession cards.

Temporary protection type visas include:

  • subclass 060 – Bridging F
  • subclass 070 – Bridging (Removal Pending)
  • subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay
  • subclass 785 – Temporary Protection
  • subclass 786 – Temporary (Humanitarian Concern)
  • subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise
  • subclass ZB 951 – Criminal Justice Stay (only when granted for certain purposes).

Partner provisional visas

If you hold a partner provisional visa, you can claim some payments and concession cards.

Partner provisional visas include:

  • subclass 820 – Partner (temporary)
  • subclass 309 – Partner (provisional).

Please note: Most temporary residents do not meet the residence rules and so are not eligible, for example, the temporary skill shortage visa 482.

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CCS Enrolment CCS News

Avoid common mistakes when enrolling children to ensure families can get Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Children who attend approved early childhood education and care must be enrolled. Children must be enrolled correctly so families can get Child Care Subsidy (CCS) payments.

Some common mistakes that should be avoided.

Families did not lodge a CCS claim before their child started at childcare service.

If a child starts at a childcare service before the family has lodged a claim, or while their claim is being assessed, the childare service will have to charge full fees. If the family is assessed as eligible, any backdated CCS will be paid directly to the family.

Families should lodge a CCS claim before their child starts at childcare service.

Didn’t use the correct enrolment type

Except in very limited circumstances, children must be enrolled under a Complying Written Arrangement to get CCS payments.

Always use the correct enrolment type.

Didn’t Identify the person who made the CCS claim

Enrolment notices must identify the person who made the CCS claim. If the childcare service doesn’t identify this person, Services Australia cannot make CCS payments.

Always identify the person who made the CCS claim.

Families did not confirm the enrolment

Once the childcare service submitted an enrolment, the family must confirm the details via their Centrelink online account. Services Australia cannot make CCS payments until the enrolment is confirmed.

Families must confirm the enrolment.

Read more about enrolling children on the Governmen website:

https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/child-care-subsidy/enrolling-children

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CCS Eligibility CCS News CCS Rates

CCS Family eligibility and entitlement from 10 July 2023

From 10 July 2023, CCS is changing. This page outlines what’s changing for providers and services that administer CCS. 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 $530,000. The maximum amount of CCS is increasing from 85% to 90%.

CCS rates from 10 July 2023

Family incomeSubsidy rate
$0 to $80,00090%
More than $80,000 to below $530,000Decreasing from 90% The percentage decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income a family earns 
$530,000 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.  

From 10 July 2023, 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. From 10 July 2023, 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 10 July 2023

Family income  Second and younger children subsidy rate
$0 to $138,11895%
More than $138,118 to below $183,118Decreasing from 95%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns 
$183,118 to below $262,40880%
$262,408 to below $352,408Decreasing from 80%The percentage decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income a family earns
$352,408 to below $362,40850%
$362,408 or moreHigher CCS rates no longer apply, all children in the family will receive the standard CCS rate

2023–24 hourly rate caps

Care typeHourly rate cap
for children below school age		Hourly rate cap
for school-age children
Centre Based Day Care$13.73$12.02
Outside School Hours Care$13.73$12.02
Family Day Care$12.72$12.72
In Home Care (per family)$37.34$37.34