Can Grandparents Get Child Care Subsidy?
Can grandparents get Child Care Subsidy?
Grandparents can sometimes get Child Care Subsidy, but usually only where they are recognised as responsible for the child’s care and are linked to the approved childcare enrolment.
It is not based only on who pays the childcare bill.
For most families, the answer depends on whether the grandparent is just helping, or has actually taken over day-to-day care.
The same issues can also come up for kinship carers and other relatives caring for a child.
In this guide, “main carer” means the person mainly responsible for the child’s day-to-day care. It does not mean the person who only helps out or pays the bill.
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Quick answer
Yes, grandparents can sometimes claim Child Care Subsidy.
But paying the childcare fees, helping with pickup, or babysitting does not usually make a grandparent the CCS claimant.
A grandparent may be able to claim CCS if they are recognised as the child’s eligible carer and are linked to the approved childcare enrolment.
| Situation | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Parent is still responsible for the child’s day-to-day care | The parent usually claims CCS |
| Grandparent helps with fees, pickup or care | Usually still the parent |
| Grandparent has taken over day-to-day care | The grandparent may be able to claim CCS |
| Grandparent has 65% or more care | Up to 100 hours of standard CCS may apply, if Services Australia accepts the 65% care arrangement |
| Grandparent has 65% or more care and gets an eligible income support payment | ACCS Grandparent may also apply, if the other rules are met |
| Grandparent minds the child privately at home | CCS does not apply |
Can I get CCS if I pay my grandchild’s childcare fees?
Usually, paying the fees is not enough by itself.
Child Care Subsidy generally follows the person recognised as responsible for the child’s care and the person linked to the approved childcare enrolment.
That means a grandparent usually cannot claim CCS just because they:
- pay the childcare invoice
- help with the gap fee
- do pickup or drop-off
- babysit or provide occasional care
- are listed as an emergency contact
If the parent remains responsible for the child’s day-to-day care, the parent will usually remain the CCS claimant.
If the parent is still the main carer
If the parent is still responsible for the child’s day-to-day care, the parent will usually claim CCS.
That can still be true even if a grandparent helps with fees, pickup, drop-off or occasional care.
For CCS purposes, helping with the child is not the same as being recognised as responsible for the child’s care.
If the grandparent has taken over care
A grandparent may be able to claim CCS if they have become the person mainly responsible for the child’s day-to-day care.
This can happen in kinship care, family crisis, protective care, or other arrangements where a grandparent is effectively raising the child.
Services Australia may look at things like:
- where the child usually lives
- who makes day-to-day decisions about the child’s care, welfare and development
- who organises childcare
- who is linked to the childcare enrolment
- what percentage of care the grandparent has
- whether there are court orders, care arrangements or other evidence
If the care arrangement has changed, the childcare enrolment may also need to be updated so the correct person is linked to the child’s approved care.
Grandparent CCS vs ACCS Grandparent
Standard CCS and ACCS Grandparent are not the same thing.
Standard CCS may apply where a grandparent is the eligible carer and linked to the approved childcare enrolment.
ACCS Grandparent is extra support for some grandparents and great-grandparents who meet additional rules, including 65% or more care and an eligible income support payment.
This distinction matters because a grandparent may be able to get standard CCS without qualifying for ACCS Grandparent.
What is ACCS Grandparent?
ACCS Grandparent means Additional Child Care Subsidy Grandparent.
It is extra childcare support for some grandparents and great-grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren.
To qualify, Services Australia says you or your partner must generally:
- be eligible for Child Care Subsidy
- receive an eligible income support payment
- be the grandparent or great-grandparent of the child
- have 65% or more care of the child
- make day-to-day decisions about the child’s care, welfare and development
Services Australia says ACCS Grandparent requires an eligible income support payment. If that payment is not in place, ACCS Grandparent generally will not apply, although standard CCS may still be available.
How much does ACCS Grandparent cover?
ACCS Grandparent can reduce childcare costs much more than standard CCS, but it is not automatic.
The Family Assistance Guide says ACCS Grandparent is equal to the actual fee charged, up to 120% of the CCS rate cap, for up to 100 hours per fortnight.
In plain English, that means ACCS Grandparent can cover a much larger share of the childcare fee than standard CCS.
But the final result still depends on:
- whether Services Australia approves the claim
- whether the care is approved childcare
- the service’s hourly fee
- the CCS rate cap
- the enrolment details
- whether your circumstances change
Can grandparents get 100 hours of subsidised care?
Some grandparents may be eligible for up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight.
A grandparent does not necessarily need ACCS Grandparent to potentially access 100 hours. Services Australia says that if you or your partner have 65% or more care of a grandchild or great-grandchild, you can get 100 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight for that child. It also says these circumstances are assessed case by case.
ACCS Grandparent is separate. It is a higher-support payment with extra eligibility rules, including the income support requirement.
From 5 January 2026, all CCS eligible families can get at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight under the 3 Day Guarantee. The Department of Education also says families are not guaranteed a place with a provider and may still need to pay a gap fee.
For grandparents, the practical split is usually:
| Grandparent situation | Possible subsidised hours |
|---|---|
| Parent remains responsible for day-to-day care | Parent’s CCS hours usually apply |
| Grandparent has 65% or more care | Up to 100 hours may apply, if Services Australia accepts the 65% care arrangement |
| Grandparent is approved for ACCS Grandparent | Up to 100 hours may apply, subject to caps and enrolment rules |
| Grandparent only provides informal care | No CCS |
Does CCS cover grandparents minding children at home?
No.
Child Care Subsidy only applies to approved childcare.
That means CCS can help with fees for approved services such as:
- long day care
- family day care
- outside school hours care
- in home care, in limited circumstances
It does not pay grandparents for informal babysitting or private care at home.
Even if a family privately pays a grandparent to mind the child, CCS does not apply unless the care is through an approved childcare service and reported through the CCS system.
What evidence might Services Australia ask for?
If a grandparent applies for ACCS Grandparent, Services Australia may ask for evidence. Services Australia says that when you apply for Additional Child Care Subsidy Grandparent, you may need to give evidence.
Evidence may help show:
- the child lives with the grandparent
- the grandparent has 65% or more care
- the grandparent makes day-to-day care decisions
- the care arrangement is ongoing
- the grandparent is responsible for childcare arrangements
Possible documents may include:
- court orders
- care arrangements
- statutory declarations
- school or childcare records
- letters from support services
- medical or professional letters
- documents showing the child’s usual address
If the care arrangement is complicated, keep records early. Do not wait until there is a payment problem.
What to check with your childcare provider
If a grandparent has taken over care, ask the childcare provider:
- who is listed as the CCS claimant
- whether the enrolment is linked to the correct person
- whether attendance records are accurate
- whether any absences or enrolment gaps could affect CCS
The provider cannot decide your CCS eligibility. But incorrect enrolment details can delay or disrupt payments.
Checklist before a grandparent claims CCS
Before relying on CCS or ACCS Grandparent, check:
- Is the child attending an approved childcare service?
- Is the correct person linked to the childcare enrolment?
- Is the parent still responsible for day-to-day care?
- Has the grandparent taken over day-to-day care?
- Does the grandparent have 65% or more care?
- Does the grandparent receive an eligible income support payment?
- Is this standard CCS, or could ACCS Grandparent apply?
- Has Services Australia been told about the care arrangement?
- Is there evidence if Services Australia asks for it?
If the answer is unclear, check before assuming the subsidy will be paid.
What if the claim is rejected or changed?
If Services Australia rejects, reduces or changes a CCS or ACCS decision, you can ask for an explanation.
You may also be able to request a review.
Time limits can apply, so do not leave it too long.
If the issue involves disputed care, kinship care, child protection, family law or court orders, you may need independent advice.
How CCSChecker can help
Grandparent care situations can change quickly. The hard part is not just knowing the subsidy percentage. It is understanding what happens when the claimant, care percentage, income, hours or enrolment changes.
Before you call Centrelink or Services Australia, change an enrolment, or commit to extra care days, CCSChecker can help you estimate the likely weekly cost.