Child Care Subsidy - Eligibility

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the main way the Government assists families with their child care fees. Some basic requirements must be satisfied for an individual to be eligible to receive Child Care Subsidy for a child.

 

These include:​

• the age of the child (must be aged 13 or under and not attending secondary school, except in certain circumstances where an individual may be eligible for a child who does not meet this criteria, such as children with a disability or medical condition in certain circumstances)

• the child meeting immunisation requirements

• the individual, or their partner, meeting the residency requirements listed in the legislation.

In addition, to be eligible for Child Care Subsidy the individual must be liable to pay for care provided, the care must be delivered in Australia by an approved child care provider, and not be part of a compulsory education program.

​

Child Care Subsidy - Level of entitlement

There are three factors that determine a family's level of Child Care Subsidy. These are:

• Combined annual family income

• Activity test – the activity level of both parents

• Service type – type of child care service and whether the child attends school

 

The Child Care Subsidy is generally paid directly to service providers to be passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families make a co-contribution to their child care fees and pay to the provider the difference between the fee charged and the subsidy amount.

 

There is also targeted additional fee assistance for vulnerable families through the Child Care Safety Net.

​

Child Care Subsidy - Absences from child care

Under the law, you are still entitled to receive Child Care Subsidy if your child is unable to attend approved child care and you are charged a fee, up to 42 absence days in the financial year. These can be used for any reason and will not require proof and include public holidays. In addition to your 42 days of ‘initial absences’ the Government may continue to pay Child Care Subsidy on your behalf for additional absence days approved under the additional absence provisions (please ask if you require further information regarding these conditions).

​

IMPORTANT NOTE:

You cannot claim Child Care Subsidy for absences if your child has not started care or has stopped care. You also cannot claim Child Care Subsidy for absences if you have notified your child care service you are taking your child out of care on a set date and then change your mind and remove your child earlier. Therefore if your child is absent during the two week notice period you will not be entitled to receive Child Care Subsidy so full fees will apply.

​

Child Care Subsidy - Statement of Entitlement

Each week we provide a Statement of Entitlement to parents eligible for Child Care Subsidy for children enrolled in our service. This statement includes details of the sessions of care provided and the resulting fee reduction amounts.

 

Statements of Entitlement are issued to ensure that families have a clear understanding of the fees they have been charged, what those fees have been charged for and how their Child Care Subsidy has offset those charges.

​

Child Care Subsidy - Further information

In addition to the fortnightly Statement of Entitlement from our service, parents have access to information through their Centrelink online account and will received periodic notifications.

  

Parents can view their determination of entitlement (the outcome, decisions and calculations of entitlement) at any time using their Centrelink online account.

 

Parents will receive a notice of all determinations of entitlement during each quarter from Centrelink.

​

Further information for families

Refer to the brochure in your enrolment pack “Child Care Package – More support for

families”

 

Visit the Department of Human Services Child Care Subsidy website www.humanservices.gov.au/childcaresubsidy.

 

Families can identify which payments they may be entitled to receive, including the Child Care Subsidy, through online Payment and Service Finder at www.humanservices.gov.au/paymentfinder.

​

Complaints or concerns?

 

If you have a complaint or concern regarding your fees or Statement of Entitlement please contact the Director:

Tel: (03) 9435 8496 Email: admin@childcare.com.au

 

The Department of Education provides a Child Care tip-off line which can be used by parents, providers or their employees to raise concerns about practices relating to the management of subsidies.

Tel: 1800 664 231 Email: tipoffline@education.gov.au