3 Day Guarantee calculator
how much does your family save under the new policy? compares your subsidy under the old activity test (pre-5 Jan 2026) to the current 3 Day Guarantee. updates as you type.
last verified: 25 April 2026
your family
must be under $535,279 for any CCS
centre-based AU average ~$13/hr (LDC). FDC ~$13/hr.
combined for both parents. enter 0 if neither is working.
your savings under the 3 Day Guarantee
$18,954/yr
the 3 Day Guarantee raised your subsidised hours from 0 hrs/fn (old activity test) to 72 hrs/fn — that's 72 extra hours of subsidy each fortnight, or $729 less out of pocket every two weeks.
before vs after, side by side
pre-5 Jan 2026 (old activity test)
from 5 Jan 2026 (3 Day Guarantee)
currenthow the 3 Day Guarantee works
from 5 january 2026, the Australian Government replaced the Child Care Subsidy activity test for the first 72 hours per fortnight. every CCS-eligible family now gets a guaranteed minimum of 72 subsidised hours / fortnight (equivalent to 3 days of care a week) regardless of whether the parents work, study or volunteer.
the 100-hour upper tier still applies for families with at least one parent doing more than 48 hours of recognised activity per fortnight. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children get 100 hours regardless of parent activity.
the CCS income test is unchanged — the subsidy still tapers from 90% at incomes up to $85,279 down to 0% at $535,279. the 3 Day Guarantee changes how many hours are subsidised, not what percentage of the hourly fee is covered.
sources: Services Australia, Department of Education, ACECQA. our editorial policy.
this is a planner. your actual entitlement depends on Services Australia's assessment of your full circumstances.
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.