How to claim the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) in Australia

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) reduces what most Australian families pay for childcare, but you have to apply for it. The process happens through Services Australia, not through your childcare centre.

This guide walks through the steps, what you'll need, and what to expect.

Before you start: what you'll need

Have these ready before you begin:

• Your myGov account (set one up if you don't have one)
• Your Centrelink CRN (Customer Reference Number) , you may need to phone Services Australia to get one if you've never claimed before
• Your combined family income estimate for this financial year
• Your child's full name and date of birth
• Your child's immunisation status (children must meet immunisation requirements to receive CCS)
• Your activity hours per fortnight (work, study, training, volunteering, looking for work) for both you and your partner if applicable

Step-by-step

1. Log in to myGov. If you don't have a myGov account, set one up first.
2. Link your Centrelink account. If your Centrelink isn't already linked to myGov, you'll be prompted to link it. You may need to phone Services Australia on 136 150 to get a linking code.
3. Start a CCS claim. From your Centrelink online account, select Payments and Claims › Make a claim, then choose Child Care Subsidy.
4. Provide your details. Family income estimate, activity hours, your child's details, your relationship status, your residency status.
5. Provide your bank details. CCS isn't paid to your bank account , it's paid to your childcare provider , but Services Australia still needs your bank details on file.
6. Submit and wait. Services Australia processes the claim. It can take up to 4 weeks, although most claims are processed faster.
7. Provide your CRN to your childcare centre. Once approved, give your CRN to the centre. We use it to register your child's enrolment with Services Australia.
8. Confirm the enrolment in Centrelink. See our guide on confirming your enrolment in Centrelink. CCS won't start being paid until you confirm.

What happens next

Once everything is set up:

• The subsidy is paid directly to your childcare centre
• You only pay the gap fee, not the full fee
• Services Australia will reconcile your subsidy at tax time, based on your actual income vs your estimate

If you've over-estimated your income, you may receive a top-up at the end of the year. If you've under-estimated, you'll need to pay back the difference. Most families update their income estimate during the year if their circumstances change, to avoid a debt.

What's changed for 2025-26

A few important changes for the current financial year:

• Hourly rate caps increased from 7 July 2025: $14.63 for centre-based day care, $13.56 for family day care, $12.81 for OSHC
• Income thresholds updated: 90% subsidy now extends to families earning under $85,279, and CCS reaches zero at $535,279
• 3 Day Guarantee from 5 January 2026: all CCS-eligible families now receive a minimum 72 hours per fortnight of subsidised care, regardless of activity test
• First Nations families: 100 hours per fortnight guaranteed

For current details, see our CCS explainer or use the CCS gap fee calculator.

Useful contacts

• Services Australia families line: 136 150
• myGov technical support: 132 307
• TIS (Translating and Interpreting Service): 131 450 if you need an interpreter