CCS hourly rate caps and subsidy rates 2026–27

Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. Figures checked against the Department of Education Child Care Subsidy page for providers and Services Australia on 10 November 2026. Caps and income thresholds are reviewed each year. General information, not financial advice; families confirm their own entitlement with Services Australia.

Quick answer

For 2026–27 the CCS hourly rate caps are $15.19 for centre based day care and outside school hours care for children below school age, $13.30 for school-age children in those care types, $14.08 for family day care, and $41.31 per family for in home care. A family’s CCS percentage applies to the hourly fee or the cap, whichever is lower. The standard rate is 90% for family income up to $88,520, falling by 1% for every $5,000 above that, to 0% at $538,520. Second and younger children aged 5 or under can get up to 95%. Since 5 January 2026 every eligible family gets at least 72 subsidised hours per fortnight, and 100 hours in some circumstances.

The 2026–27 Child Care Subsidy figures a provider needs when setting fees and explaining gap fees: hourly rate caps, income rates, higher rates for younger siblings, subsidised hours and absences.

Hourly rate caps 2026–27

Care type	Below school age	School age
Centre Based Day Care (long day care, occasional care)	$15.19	$13.30
Outside School Hours Care (before, after and vacation care)	$15.19	$13.30
Family Day Care	$14.08	$14.08
In Home Care (per family)	$41.31	$41.31

Sources: Department of Education, Services Australia. Services Australia treats a child who is not attending school and is aged 6 or over as above school age. The Department notes that the Government does not set fees or require hourly charging: the caps are a guide to what a “high fee” might be. A service that charges a daily session converts it to an hourly fee by dividing the session fee by the hours in the session.

How the cap works

CCS is the family’s percentage multiplied by the lower of the hourly fee and the cap. Two illustrations for a 10-hour session at a centre, for a family on the 90% rate:

Fee $14.00 an hour ($140): below the $15.19 cap, so CCS is 90% of $14.00, or $12.60 an hour ($126). The gap is $14.
Fee $17.00 an hour ($170): above the cap, so CCS is 90% of $15.19, or $13.67 an hour ($136.71). The gap is $33.29, of which $18.10 is the amount above the cap.

These are arithmetic illustrations only. A family’s actual entitlement is worked out by Services Australia.

CCS percentage by family income 2026–27

Family income	Standard rate
Up to $88,520	90%
More than $88,520 to below $538,520	Falls by 1% for every $5,000 of income
$538,520 or more	0%

Higher rate for second and younger children

Families with more than one child aged 5 or under in care can get a higher rate for the second and younger children. The eldest eligible child aged 5 or under is the “standard rate child”. Siblings do not need to attend the same service.

Family income	Second and younger children
$0 to $146,437	95%
More than $146,437 to below $191,437	Falls from 95% by 1% for every $3,000
$191,437 to below $270,727	80%
$270,727 to below $360,727	Falls from 80% by 1% for every $3,000
$360,727 to below $370,727	50%
$370,727 or more	Higher rate no longer applies

In Home Care sessions do not attract the higher rate, because In Home Care is subsidised per family. Where a child qualifies for both the higher rate and Additional Child Care Subsidy, the ACCS rate is paid (Department of Education).

Subsidised hours: the 3 Day Guarantee

Situation	Subsidised hours per child per fortnight
48 hours or less of recognised participation (including none)	72
More than 48 hours of recognised participation; caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child; approved exemptions; receiving ACCS (child wellbeing, temporary financial hardship or grandparent)	100

This has applied since 5 January 2026. Families must still pay a gap fee except in certain circumstances.

What this means for providers

Absences: CCS is payable for up to 42 absence days per child per financial year. A child who does not attend at least once in 26 consecutive weeks stops being eligible. See CCS provider obligations.
Fee changes: families need at least 14 days’ notice of a change to fees (regulation 172). See payment of fees policy.
Separated parents: a separate enrolment notice is needed for each parent, and session reports must show which parent is responsible for each session.
Worker Retention Payment services: fee growth limits apply under the grant. See Worker Retention Payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CCS hourly rate cap for 2026-27?

$15.19 for centre based day care and outside school hours care for children below school age, $13.30 for school-age children, $14.08 for family day care and $41.31 per family for in home care.

What income gets the maximum 90% Child Care Subsidy?

Family income up to $88,520 in 2026-27. The rate falls by 1% for every $5,000 above that and reaches 0% at $538,520.

How many hours of CCS do families get from 2026?

Since 5 January 2026 all CCS-eligible families get at least 72 hours per child per fortnight, and 100 hours if they have more than 48 hours of recognised participation, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child, an exemption, or certain ACCS payments.

What happens if a centre's fee is above the hourly rate cap?

CCS is calculated on the cap, not the fee, so the family pays the full amount above the cap plus its usual gap.

Ask the question in your own words

WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.

14-day free trial, no card →

This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.