We offer payments to help with the cost of child care. From 2 July 2018 there will be changes to the assistance we offer.
If you're a provider of child care, read more information for child care service providers.
Current child care assistance – up until 2 July 2018
Help with child care costs
We can help with the cost of child care. You can claim these payments for child care provided before 2 July 2018.
Child Care Benefit (CCB) helps with the cost of approved and registered care.
Child Care Rebate (CCR) helps with out of pocket expenses for approved care if you’re working, studying or training. You may be able to get CCR even if your income is too high for CCB.
Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Child Care Fee Assistance helps with the cost of approved child care if you’re receiving a certain income support payment and are doing activities such as searching for a job, working or studying.
You can use our Payment and Service Finder to see:
- how much CCB for approved care and CCR you might get
- the number of hours you can claim, and
- your child care out of pocket expenses
Types of child care
The payment you may be eligible for depends on if you use an approved child care provider or a registered child care provider.
Approved child care providers are approved by the Department of Education and Training to accept CCB and CCR on your behalf. These services can include:
- long day care
- family day care
- outside school hours care
- vacation care
- occasional care, and
- in home care
The mychild website has information to help you choose a child care service that meets your needs.
Registered child care is care provided by individuals who are registered with us as a care provider. Registered carers can include:
- grandparents
- relatives
- friends
- neighbours
- nannies, and
- individuals in some child care services such as
- private preschools
- kindergartens, or
- some outside school hours services, including before and after school care, vacation care and holiday programs
New child care assistance – from 2 July 2018
Help with child care costs
There will be changes to the child care assistance we offer.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps with the cost of approved child care.
Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) gives extra assistance for some families with the cost of approved child care.
Types of child care
You’ll only be eligible for CCS and ACCS if you use an approved child care service.
Approved child care services are approved by the Department of Education and Training to accept payments on your behalf. These services can include:
- long day care
- family day care
- outside school hours care
- vacation care, and
- occasional care
Read about what you need to do to get Child Care Subsidy if you currently get a child care payment.