Second Child Higher CCS Rate

How multiple children under school age affects your subsidy in 2025–26.

What is it?

If you have two or more children aged 5 or under in approved care, the government pays a higher CCS rate for your second (and younger) children. The maximum higher rate is 95% — compared to a maximum standard rate of 90%.

Eligibility requirements

✓You have two or more children aged 5 or under in approved care at the same time

✓Your combined family income is below $367,563

✓The children are in approved childcare (CBDC, FDC, OSHC, or IHC)

How the higher rate is calculated

The higher rate is the lower of:

95%, or
Your standard CCS rate + 30 percentage points

Examples

Family ATI $80,000 → standard rate 90% → higher rate = min(95%, 90%+30%) = 95%

Family ATI $200,000 → standard rate 67% → higher rate = min(95%, 67%+30%) = 95%

Family ATI $350,000 → standard rate 27% → higher rate = min(95%, 27%+30%) = 57%

Family ATI $400,000 → above $367,563 → higher rate does not apply → standard rate only

Which child gets the higher rate?

The eldest child aged 5 or under receives the standard CCS rate. The second (and any younger) children aged 5 or under receive the higher rate.

School-age children are not eligible for the higher rate regardless of how many younger siblings they have in care.

Important: When using our calculator, add children from oldest to youngest. The calculator automatically applies the higher rate to the correct children.

Calculate your family's CCS

Our calculator handles multi-child families and automatically applies the higher rate where eligible.

Use the calculator →