Work or activity hours changed? Check your Child Care Subsidy

Work hours, study hours, rosters and activity details all play a role in your CCS estimate. When these details change, a previous estimate or saved baseline may no longer reflect the current situation — and it may be worth checking whether the details entered still appear to match real life.

Estimate your CCS today — then keep checking when life changes.

Activity-hours example

A work or study change can alter the hours available for subsidised care.

Before

30 recognised hrs/fn

After change

55 recognised hrs/fn

For FY2026–27 planning, the app helps families reason about the 72/100-hour position from the recognised activity entered, while clearly separating that estimate from the official Centrelink decision.

Common questions

What counts as activity?

The app helper lets you estimate common categories such as paid work, study, training and other recognised activity. Services Australia determines what officially qualifies.

Whose hours matter for a couple?

The checkup uses the lower recognised participation figure entered for partnered families when modelling the ordinary 72/100-hour position.

What if I have an exemption or special circumstance?

Special rules can change the ordinary 72/100-hour treatment. Use the relevant exemption or special-circumstance inputs where applicable and verify official details with Services Australia.

Which option is right for me?

CCS Checkup provides estimate-only decision support based on the details families enter. Services Australia/Centrelink determines actual CCS outcomes.

Quick CCS Calculator

Free

Use this if you want a quick one-off estimate based on your current work or activity hours.

One-off estimate based on the details you enter
See how changed hours may affect your out-of-pocket estimate
No account needed — free to use

Track My CCS

A$4.99/year

Use this if your work or activity hours change during the year and you want to save a baseline, compare projected changes, and identify possible review points.

Save your current CCS baseline
Re-check when work or activity hours change
Compare projected changes based on details entered
Cancel anytime

Why work and activity hours can affect your CCS estimate

CCS estimates are partly based on the work, study and activity details entered. The number of subsidised hours a family may be positioned for depends on the activity details they have provided to Services Australia/Centrelink — not on what CCS Checkup calculates. CCS Checkup can help families estimate their possible subsidised-hours position based on the details they enter, and identify possible review points.

Changed work hours may affect the subsidised hours position estimated based on the details entered.
A change in study, training or volunteer activity hours may also be relevant to the details entered.
Irregular or casual hours that have changed significantly may mean a previous estimate no longer reflects current arrangements.
Activity details that no longer match what was entered before may be worth checking with Services Australia/Centrelink.

Services Australia/Centrelink determines actual subsidised hours and CCS outcomes based on each family's individual circumstances. CCS Checkup does not determine subsidised hours or validate eligibility.

Common work and activity changes that may need a check

Starting work for the first time or returning to work
Stopping work or reducing to zero activity hours
Changing roster or shift pattern
Increasing work hours — full-time, part-time or casual
Reducing work hours
Changing study, training or volunteer activity hours
Irregular or casual hours changing significantly
Activity details no longer matching what was entered before
Returning to work after parental leave

Why a one-off estimate can become outdated

A one-off CCS estimate is based on the details entered at that point in time. If work hours, activity hours or roster arrangements change, the earlier snapshot may no longer match real life. Activity details entered previously may no longer reflect the current situation — and a check may help identify whether those details appear to still match.

How CCS Checkup helps when work or activity hours change

Use the free Quick CCS Calculator for a one-off estimate based on updated work or activity hours
Use Track My CCS to save a baseline and compare how a change in hours may affect your possible CCS position
Identify possible review points based on the details you enter
Estimate-only decision support — not a replacement for Services Australia/Centrelink

Activity details may be worth checking directly with Services Australia/Centrelink to ensure records are accurate and up to date.

What CCS Checkup does not do

CCS Checkup provides estimate-only decision support. It does not replace Centrelink or Services Australia. It does not access official Centrelink records. It does not determine subsidised hours or validate activity eligibility. It does not provide financial, tax, legal, accounting, Centrelink, Services Australia or government advice. Actual CCS entitlements, subsidised hours, payments, debts and balancing outcomes are determined by Services Australia/Centrelink based on each family's individual circumstances.

Ready to check your CCS?

Start with a free one-off snapshot, or use Track My CCS to save a baseline and re-check when work or activity hours change.

Free snapshot — no account needed. Track My CCS — A$4.99/year, login required, cancel anytime.

Helpful CCS checkup topics

View all CCS checkup topics

Built from real CCS experience

CCS Checkup was created from real parent experience with the Child Care Subsidy system, supported by a background in finance and numbers. It helps families estimate, check and better understand when their CCS details may need reviewing — especially when life changes.

Estimate-only decision support. Not financial, tax, legal, accounting, Centrelink, Services Australia or government advice.

Read why CCS Checkup exists

Disclaimer: CCS Checkup provides estimates and decision-support tools for general information only. Results are not guaranteed and do not constitute financial, tax, legal, or government advice. Actual CCS entitlements, subsidised hours, payments, debts and balancing outcomes are determined by Services Australia/Centrelink based on your individual circumstances. Always verify your details with Services Australia before making decisions or changes to your Centrelink records. CCS Checkup is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Services Australia or the Australian Government.

Read our Privacy Policy.