Work, Training, Study test for Child Care Benefit
Provides up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for approved child care per week if you meet the Work, Training, Study test to eligible customers.
Child Care Benefit rates are adjusted on 1 July each year, in line with the Consumer Price Index—changes to the cost of living. This means that the rates are different for each new financial year.
Meeting the test for approved care
If you are using approved care, you will get up to 24 hours of Child Care Benefit per child per week without having to meet the Work, Training, Study test.
To meet the test for claims between 24 and 50 hours of Child Care Benefit per child per week, you have to show that you and your partner both have work-related commitments for at least 15 hours a week (or 30 hours a fortnight) or have an exemption from that requirement.
Get up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit per week
If you and your partner both have work-related commitments that total at least 30 hours in a fortnight, you can average your work-related commitments over the fortnight to receive up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit for both weeks in the fortnight.
For example, if you work 10 hours in one week and 20 hours in the next week, you will have total commitments of 30 hours in the fortnight and will be able to receive up to 50 hours of Child Care Benefit per child per week.
Get more than 50 hours of Child Care Benefit per week
In some circumstances you can receive more than 50 hours of Child Care Benefit per week.
If you are receiving Child Care Benefit as reduced fees and both you and your partner are unable to care for your child/ren at the same time, you may be eligible for increased hours of Child Care Benefit.
You may be eligible if you satisfy one of the following criteria:
- you are single and cannot care for the child due to work related reasons or study*
- you are partnered and one person is unable to care for the child due to work related reasons or study and the other person is disabled
- you and your partner are unable to care for the child due to work related reasons or study for more than 50 hours per week.
To assess your eligibility contact Centrelink on 136 150.
*Work related reasons can include, for example, travel time and sleep of up to 10 hours if the person works evening or night shifts. Study means attending a course to improve work skills or job prospects.
Meeting the test for registered care
There is no minimum hours required to meet the test for registered care. You and your partner only have to use child care while you participate in work-related commitments at some time during the week (Monday to Sunday) or have an exemption.
Defining a work-related commitment
A work-related commitment is defined as one or more of these activities:
- paid work or self employment
- setting up a business
- training or studying
- looking for work
- voluntary work to improve your work skills.
Voluntary work that does not improve work skills must be undertaken for at least 15 hours a week or 30 hours a fortnight.
Satisfying the Work, Training, Study test in other ways
You will satisfy the Work, Training, Study test if you are either:
- on annual leave or long service leave
- on sick or other paid leave
- on paid or unpaid parental leave, for up to a maximum of 12 months
- on self employment leave (including sick leave)
- receiving Carer Payment
- receiving Carer Allowance
- caring for a person with disability
- on carer leave or carer sick leave
Exemption from the Work, Training, Study test
You or your partner may be exempt if:
- you or your partner have a disability (the other partner must still meet the Work, Training, Study Test), which includes receiving Disability Support Pension
- you or your partner are overseas or in prison
- you or your partner are a grandparent with primary care for your grandchild
- you are facing exceptional circumstances