Child Care Benefits

The New Child Care Package from 2 July 2018 includes a new Child Care Subsidy, which replaces the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate.

The Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to services.

Approved care is care provided by a service provider that has been approved to receive Child Care Benefit payments on behalf of eligible families.  Most long day care, before and after school care, vacation care, some occasional care and some in-home care are approved child care providers.  Your child care service can tell you if they are an approved provider.

 

Registered care is care for work related purposes that is provided by grandparents, relatives, friends or nannies who are registered with the Family Assistance Office.  Registered care also includes care provided by some private preschools, kindergartens, some outside school hours care services and some occasional care centres.  Your carer can tell you if they are registered.

 

Families using registered care are entitled to the minimum rate only of Child Care Benefit which is paid by direct credit upon presentation of receipts.  You must claim your benefit within 12 months after the date the care has been provided.

 

 

You may get the Child Care Benefit if:

 

> you have a child in your care who meets the immunisation requirements.

 

> your child attends approved or registered child care and you are charged a fee for their care.

 

> you or your partner (if you have one) meet residency requirements.

 

> you or your partner meet the work/study/training test (different rules for grandparents who are primary carers). 

 

 

Approved Care

 

There is no assets test for approved care, but your income affects the amount of Child Care Benefit you can get for approved care.

 

Up to 30 June 2008 a “minimum Child Care Benefit” was payable no matter how high the family income was.  

 

From 1 July 2008, there is no longer a “minimum Child Care Benefit Rate.”  As the family income increases the rate reduces until it reaches zero.  However, even if their benefit is reduced to nil as a result of the threshold, they will still be entitled to the Child Care Tax Rebate (50%).

 

Refer to the links below. 

 

Registered Care

 

There is no income test for registered care.  There is no assets test for registered care.

 

Rates from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $45,114 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$156,914
Two	$162,633
Three	$183,655 + $34,724 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $44,457 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$154,697
Two	$160,308
Three	$181,024 + $34,237 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $43,727 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$152,147
Two	$157,654
Three	$178,023 + $33,671 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $42,997 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$149,597
Two	$155,013
Three	$175,041 + $33,106 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $41,902 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$145,642
Two	$150,914
Three	$170,404 + $32,219 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $41,026 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$142,426
Two	$147,594
Three	$166,656 + $31,495 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $39,785 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$138,065
Two	$143,095
Three	$161,581 + $30,528 for each extra child in care

Rates from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $38,763 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$134,443
Two	$139,333
Three	$157,329 + $29,721 for each extra child in care

 

Rates from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $37,960 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$131,560
Two	$136,375
Three	$153,995 + $29,077 for each extra child in care

 

Rates from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $36,573 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is now zero.

> Once family incomes reach the following income limits, they will no longer receive CCB payments.

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$126,793
Two	$131,457
Three	$148,452 + $28,028 for each extra child in care

 

Rates from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $35,478 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is payable over the following thresholds:

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$108,434
Two	$115.900
Three +	$131,570 + $23,031 for each child after the third

 

Rates from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007

> The maximum rate is payable for family incomes under $34,310 or families on income support.

> The minimum rate is payable over the following thresholds:

Number of children in care	Upper income threshold
One	$98,348
Two	$106,629
Three +	$121,130 + $20,221 for each child after the third

From 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$215.00	$4.30
School child (85%)	1	$182.75	$3.65

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

From 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$212.00	$4.24
School child (85%)	1	$180.20	$3.60

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

 

 

From 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$208.50	$4.17
School child (85%)	1	$177.23	$3.54

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

 

 

From 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$205.00	$4.10
School child (85%)	1	$174.25	$3.48

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

 

 

From 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$199.50	$3.99
School child (85%)	1	$169.57	$3.39

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

 

From 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$195.00	$3.90
Non-school child	2	$407.53	$4.07
Non-school child	3	$635.95	$4.23
Each Non-school child	after the 3rd	$211.98	$4.23
School child (85%)	1	$165.75	$3.32
School child (85%)	2	$346.40	$3.46
School child (85%)	3	$540.56	$3.60
Each School child (85%)	after the 3rd	$180.18	$3.60

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

From 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2012	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$189.00	$3.78
Non-school child	2	$395.00	$3.95
Non-school child	3	$616.42	$4.10
Each Non-school child	after the 3rd	$205.47	$4.10
School child (85%)	1	$160.65	$3.21
School child (85%)	2	$335.75	$3.36
School child (85%)	3	$523.96	$3.49
Each School child (85%)	after the 3rd	$176.65	$3.49

> Payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged.  Fee reductions are based on an estimate of adjusted taxable income, with reconciliation after the end of the financial year.

> Alternatively, payment can be made as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year.

From 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$180.00	$3.60
Non-school child	2	$376.21	$3.76
Non-school child	3	$587.13	$3.91
School child (85%)	1	$153.00	$3.06
School child (85%)	2	$319.78	$3.20
School child (85%)	3	$499.06	$3.32

 

From 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$173.50	$3.47
Non-school child	2	$362.63	$3.62
Non-school child	3	$565.95	$3.77
School child (85%)	1	$147.48	$2.95
School child (85%)	2	$308.23	$3.08
School child (85%)	3	$481.06	$3.20

 

From 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$168.50	$3.37
Non-school child	2	$352.17	$3.52
Non-school child	3	$549.63	$3.66
Non-school child	Each additional after 3rd	$183.21	$3.66
School child (85%)	1	$143.22	$2.86
School child (85%)	2	$299.34	$2.99
School child (85%)	3	$467.18	$3.11

 

From 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007	Number of children in care	Per week (for 50 hours of care)	Per hour for each child
Non-school child	1	$148.00	$2.96
Non-school child	2	$309.35	$3.09
Non-school child	3	$482.84	$3.21
School child (85%)	1	$125.80	$2.52
School child (85%)	2	$262.95	$5.26
School child (85%)	3	$410.41	$8.21

From 1 July 2008 the minimum Child Care Benefit rate for approved childcare is zero.

 

Rate of Payment  for non-school child	Per hour for each child	Maximum per week for each child (for 50 hours per week)
1/07/08 –	$0	$0
1/07/07 – 30/6/08	$0.564	$28.20
4/07/06 – 30/6/07	$0.497	$24.85

 

The childcare minimum benefit rate for a school child is 85% of the rate for a non-school child.  

 

 

Families using registered care are entitled to the following rate of child care benefit.

Rate of Payment for non-school child	Per hour for each child	Maximum per week for each child (for 50 hours per week)
1/07/17 – 30/6/18	$0.719	$35.95
1/07/16 – 30/6/17	$0.708	$35.40
1/07/15 – 30/6/16	$0.696	$34.80
1/07/14 – 30/6/15	$0.684	$34.20
1/07/13 – 30/6/14	$0.666	$33.30
1/07/12 – 30/6/13	$0.652	$32.60
1/07/11 – 30/6/12	$0.632	$31.60
1/07/10 – 30/6/11	$0.615	$30.75
1/07/09 – 30/6/10	$0.602	$30.10
1/07/08 – 30/6/09	$0.581	$29.05
1/07/07 – 30/6/08	$0.564	$28.20
4/07/06 – 30/6/07	$0.497	$24.85

The childcare minimum benefit rate for a school child is 85% of the rate for a non-school child.