From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised child care each fortnight, or 3 days per week. These changes are known as the 3 Day Guarantee.
You can get 100 hours of subsidised child care each fortnight if either of the following apply:
- you and your partner, if you have one, each do more than 48 hours of recognised participation every fortnight
- you have a valid exemption.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can get 100 hours of subsidised child care each fortnight.
Up until 5 January 2026, we’ll use the activity test and your circumstances to work out how many hours of subsidised child care you can get each fortnight.
From 5 January 2026, we’ll replace the activity test. Recognised activities, like work or study, will be known as recognised participation types.
This is how we’ll work out your subsided hours for child care from 5 January 2026.
| Your circumstances | Hours of subsidised child care each fortnight |
|---|---|
| Up to 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight | 72 hours |
More than 48 hours of recognised participation each fortnight. Valid exemptions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children | 100 hours |
If you have a partner, we’ll use the lower of your or your partner’s recognised participation to work out your hours of subsidised child care.
There is no change to the way we work out your CCS percentage. You’ll still need to pay a gap fee or out of pocket cost to your child care provider, based on your CCS percentage.
If you already get CCS you don’t need to do anything. We will use the information we have to work out your hours of subsidised child care from 5 January 2026. If you’re not currently getting CCS, find out more about how to claim.