Determining Child Care Subsidy
Prior to commencing your child at Starbright early learning you are required to complete the online Child Care Subsidy assessment via myGov website. This will determine your eligibility and level of Child Care Subsidy entitlements. https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy/how-claim
When registering for your Child Care Subsidy centrelink may request an enrolment start date, it is ok for you to select any date as Starbright will inform Centrelink of your child’s official enrolment start date.
The amount of Child Care Subsidy to which a family is entitled is determined by the:
- family income
- results of an activity test
- type of child care service.
It is important that families keep Centrelink informed about any change of family circumstances.
Family income
Family income is the annual adjusted taxable income of the individual and their partner (if they have a partner). It is used to determine the percentage of Child Care Subsidy to which an individual is entitled. For more information, see the Department of Human Services website at www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/adjusted-taxable-income.
The percentage of subsidy relative to income level is set out in Table A1, for 2019–20.
The lowest income threshold will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index annually, and all other income thresholds will be increased by the same dollar amount to match the rate at which the subsidy gradually decreases.
| Table A1: Current levels of family income and the amount of Child Care Subsidy payable as a percentage of the actual fee charged or hourly rate cap, for 2019–20. | |
| Family income | Subsidy per cent of the actual fee charged or hourly rate cap, whichever is lower |
| Up to $68,163 | 85 per cent |
| More than $68,163 to below $173,163 | Decreasing to 50 per cent |
| $173,163 to below $252,453 | 50 per cent |
| $252,453 to below $342,453 | Decreasing to 20 per cent |
| $342,453 to below $352,453 | 20 per cent |
| $352,453 or more | 0 per cent |
^ Note: These amounts are correct for 2019-20 and will be subject to adjustment through indexation in subsequent years.
Activity test
The hours of subsidised child care per fortnight that a family is entitled to is determined by an activity test. Depending on the combined hours of work, training, study, recognised voluntary work or other recognised activity undertaken, a family can receive up to 100 hours of subsidy per fortnight per child. Both the claimant and their partner, if they have one, must satisfy the activity test unless they are exempt. For claimants who are partnered, the number of subsidised hours the family is entitled to will be based on the member of the couple with the lowest activity test result, even when an exemption applies.
| Table A2: Hours of activity and maximum number of hours of Child Care Subsidy (per fortnight) per child | |
| Hours of activity (per fortnight) | Maximum number of hours of subsidy (per fortnight) per child |
| For families earning up to $68,163 | |
| Fewer than 8 hours | 24 hours |
| For families earning up to $352,453 | |
| 8–16 hours | 36 hours |
| More than 16 up to 48 hours | 72 hours |
| More than 48 hours | 100 hours |
A broad range of activities meet the activity test requirements, including paid work, self-employment, unpaid work in a family business, looking for work, and recognised volunteering or studying. Travel time from the child care service to your place of activity and back to the child care service can be included (but not between home and the child care). There are exemptions to the activity test for parents who legitimately cannot meet the activity requirements.
Low-income families on combined family incomes of $68,163 or less a year who do not meet the activity test can access 24 hours of subsidised care per fortnight under the Child Care Safety Net.
Families who do not meet the activity test but have a preschool-age child attending preschool in a Centre Based Day Care service will be eligible for 36 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
Families who need more than their available hours of subsidised care per fortnight due to exceptional circumstances can apply to Centrelink for additional hours.
Steps to claim Child Care Subsidy
1. Get ready to claim
The easiest way to claim is online, you will need a mygov account linked to Centrelink. https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy/how-claim
If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to set them up.
You may need to confirm your identity with us before you start your claim.
If you can’t claim online call us on the Families line.
2. Get your documents ready
You’ll need to get some supporting documents ready to help answer some of the questions in the claim.
3. Make your claim
1. Sign in to myGov and go to Centrelink.
2. Select Payment and Claims from the menu, then Claims, then Make a claim.
3. Under Families, select Get started.
4. Answer all the questions. Each screen has information to help you complete the claim. This includes how to submit your supporting documents.
5. Submit your claim.
For help, use the online guide to claim Child Care Subsidy.
When you’re ready: Sign in to myGov
4. Track your claim
After you submit your claim online, you’ll receive a receipt telling you:
- that you’ve successfully submitted your claim
- the ID number of your claim
- the date we estimate your claim will be complete
- a link to track its progress.
You can track the progress of your claim online. Sign in to myGov and go to Centrelink, or use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
The Department of Human Services will also let you know the result of your claim. They will send an assessment notice to either your:
If you don't get electronic letters, they will send your notice in the mail.
You can also view your result in your Centrelink online account or Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Select Child Care Subsidy from the menu, then Child Care Subsidy Summary to view the outcome.
If they need more details, they will ask you for them.
We encourage families to keep their details updated with Centrelink through your centrelink account on myGov.
Centrelink phone number: 136150 Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm
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Here at Starbright we place value on really getting to know our children and their families, believing through this we can nurture their learning and guide their development. We create inspiring and challenging learning environments for then to engage with and cherish the deep connection and strong family values that are shared within our place of learning.
