CCS activity test hours calculator — how many subsidised childcare hours? (Australia 2026)
enter each parent's activity hours per fortnight (paid work + study + volunteering + job-seeking + caring + business setup). we'll show your CCS entitlement, including the new 3 Day Guarantee from January 2026.
last verified: 24 April 2026
total paid work + study + volunteering + job-seeking + unpaid work over 2 weeks. 38-hour week × 2 = 76.
the lower of the two parents' hours sets your tier.
CCS cuts off at $535,279/yr. below that, the 3 Day Guarantee gives you 72 hours/fortnight regardless of activity.
your CCS entitlement
72 hours
of subsidised care per fortnight (7.2 days at 10 hrs/day)
72 hours — 3 Day Guarantee (default for all CCS-eligible families)
how we worked it out
what counts as activity
- •paid work — including leave taken while employed
- •self-employment, sole trader work, running a business
- •approved study or training (including apprenticeships)
- •looking for work (actively job-seeking)
- •voluntary work — capped at 48 hrs/fortnight
- •unpaid work experience or internship
- •setting up a business (time-limited)
- •caring for a person with a disability
the tiers (post 5 January 2026)
| situation | CCS entitlement |
|---|---|
| CCS-eligible family, 0–48 activity hrs/fn | 72 hrs (3 Day Guarantee) |
| CCS-eligible family, >48 activity hrs/fn | 100 hrs (high-activity tier) |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander child | 100 hrs (regardless of activity) |
| Family income over $535,279 | 0 hrs |
before 5 January 2026 the activity test had four bands (0/36/72/100 hours). the 3 Day Guarantee replaced the bottom three with a flat 72-hour floor. this calculator reflects the current (post-reform) rules.
this calculator provides estimates based on published government rates and formulas. your actual entitlement may vary based on your full circumstances. always check with Services Australia for a precise figure.
related tools
how the tiers work: Services Australia assesses activity in fortnightly windows. If you exceed the threshold of a higher tier at any point in the fortnight, you get the higher tier for that whole fortnight. Tiers are assessed per parent; couples use the lower-activity parent.
3 Day Guarantee details: introduced in January 2026 under the Cheaper Child Care reforms. Families earning under $533,280 get a minimum 30 hours of subsidised care per fortnight regardless of activity. Above that income cap, the original activity test applies (meaning zero CCS hours for under-8 activity).
source: Services Australia — Activity test for Child Care Subsidy
this tool is an estimate. record your actual activity hours accurately — misrepresentation can trigger Services Australia review and repayment demands.