Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Everything to know about the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) - understanding eligibility, payments, and what you’ll actually pay.

What are CCS hourly rate caps?

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) hourly rate cap is the maximum hourly fee the Australian Government will subsidise when calculating CCS. If a childcare service charges above that cap, families pay the extra amount themselves - even if they’re eligible for a high CCS percentage. This article explains how the hourly rate cap works in simple, parent-friendly language, including why two families with the same CCS percentage can still have very different out-of-pocket childcare costs. You’ll also learn why some childcare services charge above the cap, how to tell whether a service’s fees exceed the government limit, and why understanding the cap can help you compare childcare costs more realistically. Most importantly, this guide reassures parents that CCS still applies even when fees are above the cap - it simply means families cover the additional amount themselves.