Child Care Subsidy Activity Test
How your work, study, and other activities determine your subsidised care hours — including the 3-Day Guarantee from January 2026.
🎉 The 3-Day Guarantee is now in effect
From 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families automatically receive a minimum of 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight— no minimum activity requirement. This is the "3-Day Guarantee."
Current activity test (from 5 January 2026)
| Activity (lower-earning/lower-activity parent) | Subsidised hours / fortnight |
|---|---|
| Any eligible family (3-Day Guarantee) | 72 hours minimum |
| Either parent does >48 hours of recognised activity | 100 hours |
| First Nations children | 100 hours (always) |
What counts as recognised activity?
You can combine different types of activity to reach the 49-hour threshold. For example, 30 hours of paid work + 20 hours of study = 50 hours, which qualifies for 100 hours of subsidised care.
The "lower parent" rule
For couples, the subsidised hours entitlement is based on the parent with the lower level of recognised activity — not the higher. This is an important distinction.
Example
Parent A works 60 hours/fortnight. Parent B studies for 15 hours/fortnight. The lower is 15 hours, so the family receives 72 hours of subsidised care (3-Day Guarantee minimum) — not 100 hours.
If Parent B increased their activity to 50 hours/fortnight, the family would qualify for 100 hours.
See how activity hours affect your costs
Our calculator shows your estimate and highlights whether increasing activity would unlock more hours.
Use the calculator →