BenefitsMate

Child Care Subsidy on $90,000 Family Income

How much CCS you get, what child care costs after subsidy, and how to maximise your entitlement on a $90,000 household income. 2025-26 rates.

Your CCS Rate

88%

On a family income of $90,000, the government pays 88% of the hourly rate cap — you pay the rest.

Family Income

$90,000

Subsidy Rate

88%

Daily Subsidy

$123.20

on $140/day fee

Daily Out-of-Pocket

$16.80

you pay this

Your Out-of-Pocket Child Care Costs

Based on centre-based day care at $140/day (typical full-day rate)

Days/WeekDaily CostSubsidy PaysYou Pay (Daily)Weekly CostAnnual Cost
3 days$140.00$123.20$16.80$50.40$2,520
4 days$140.00$123.20$16.80$67.20$3,360
5 days$140.00$123.20$16.80$84.00$4,200
Annual costs based on 50 weeks of care. Actual costs depend on your provider's fees and the hourly rate cap.

Hourly Rate Cap — What Gets Subsidised

The 88% subsidy is calculated on the hourly rate cap, not your actual fee. If your provider charges more than the cap, you pay the difference on top.

Care TypeHourly CapMax Hourly Subsidy (88%)
Centre-based day care$15.00/hr$13.20/hr
Family day care$13.73/hr$12.08/hr
Outside school hours care$13.73/hr$12.08/hr

Activity Test — Hours You Need to Work or Study

The activity test determines how many hours of subsidised care you can access per fortnight. Recognised activities include paid work, study, training, volunteering, and looking for work.

Activity Hours (per fortnight)Subsidised HoursApprox Days/Week
8-16 hours36 hours/fortnight~2 days
16-48 hours72 hours/fortnight~3 days
48+ hours100 hours/fortnight~5 days

If both parents are working 48+ hours per fortnight, you can access up to 100 subsidised hours. The lower activity parent determines the entitlement.

Could You Increase Your Subsidy?

Your family income of $90,000 puts you at a 88% subsidy rate. If you could reduce your assessable income by $5,000 (for example, through salary sacrifice to super or additional tax deductions), your CCS rate would increase to 89%. That could save you hundreds of dollars per year in child care costs.

How Child Care Subsidy is Calculated on $90,000

Step 1: Your combined family income of $90,000 determines a subsidy rate of 88%. The rate decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income above $80,000. You are $10,000 above the $80,000 threshold.

Step 2: The subsidy is applied to the hourly rate cap (e.g., $15.00/hr for centre-based care), not the actual fee. If your provider charges more, you pay the gap.

Step 3: The CCS is paid directly to your provider. You only pay the out-of-pocket amount. At the end of the financial year, your subsidy is reconciled based on actual income.

Step 4: The activity test limits how many subsidised hours you can access. Both parents (or carers) must meet the test — the lower activity level determines your entitlement.

CCS Rate by Family Income (2025-26)

Get a more precise estimate with your exact details

Full CCS Calculator

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with Services Australia.