The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Helpdesk will close for the 2022-23 Christmas/New Year period. Here’s what you need to know about session reports, attendances, absences and service closures.
The CCS Helpdesk will close from 12.30pm (AEDT) on Friday 23 December 2022 and reopen at 9am (AEDT) on Tuesday 3 January 2023.
If you need help during this period, please refer to our resources for providers.
Session reports and payment dates
Data submitted to the Child Care Subsidy System will be processed throughout the Christmas and New Year period. You will be able to view the data through your third-party software or the Provider Entry Point (PEP). Session reports submitted on the following dates may experience short delays in process or payment due to public holidays:
- 22 December 2022
- 23 December 2022
- 29 December 2022
- 30 December 2022.
Temporary change of circumstances
You must tell us within 14 days if you close your service or change your operating hours over the holiday period.
This is a requirement under Family Assistance Law. You may get an infringement if you don't let us know within the timeframe.
You can tell us about the above changes through your third-party software provider or the PEP. If you need help in the PEP, refer to the how to update organisation details in PEP task card. Contact your software provider for help with your third-party software.
More information can be found on our website.
Closing early on 23 December
If your service is closing early on Friday 23 December 2022, you must report shorter sessions of care. This can be done either via the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or your third party software.
Reporting attendances and absences
You must only submit session reports for the hours you are open and providing care, unless it is a public holiday or there is a local emergency.
You cannot report attendances for days that your service is closed. You can only report attendances for sessions of care that a child was present.
Gap fee waiving
Services can waive the gap fee and receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) if a child is unable to attend care because
- They, or a member of their immediate household, has tested positive for COVID-19.
- The service, or a room at the service, is closed on advice from the state or territory government due to COVID-19. This applies for the duration of the closure outlined in the advice.
- The state or territory has restricted access to child care in a region due to COVID-19. This applies from the first day the restrictions are in force.
Additional absences
A public holiday is not an additional absence reason. A child is only eligible for additional absences on a public holiday if all of the following apply:
- the 52 initial absence days per financial year have been used
- it is a day the child normally attends care
- you have charged a fee
- one of the additional absence reasons applies (e.g. sickness), and
- written evidence supports the additional absence reason (e.g. a medical certificate).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all families receive an extra 10 allowable absences for the 2022–23 financial year. This brings the total number of allowable absences available to 52.
Services that close over the holiday period
You may make a business decision to charge families over a Christmas shutdown period. Families are not entitled to Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for the days your service is closed.
However, you can report absences and receive CCS for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day public holidays if:
- the family has been charged a fee for those days, and
- the public holiday falls on a day that the child would normally be in care.
Please refer to your state guidelines regarding public holidays.
The below table explains the circumstances in which you can report an absence when closed.
|
Date |
Status |
Can CCS be paid for an allowable absence? |
|---|---|---|
|
Friday, 23 December 2022 |
Open |
Yes Note: If your service is closing early on 23 December 2022, you must report shorter sessions of care. |
|
Saturday, 24 December 2022 |
Closed |
No |
|
Sunday, 25 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Monday, 26 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Tuesday, 27 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 |
Closed |
No |
|
Thursday, 29 December 2022 |
Closed |
No |
|
Friday, 30 December 2022 |
Closed |
No |
|
Saturday, 31January 2022 |
Closed |
No |
|
Sunday, 1 January 2023 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Monday, 2 January 2023 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
Services that only close for public holidays
If you provide care over the Christmas and New Year period and only close for public holidays, attendances and absences should be reported as usual. Please refer to your state guidelines regarding public holidays.
The below table explains the circumstances in which you can report an absence.
|
Date |
Status |
Can CCS be paid for an allowable absence on this day? |
|---|---|---|
|
Friday, 23 December 2022 |
Open |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged Note: If your service is closing early on 23 December 2022, you must report shorter sessions of care. |
|
Saturday, 24 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Sunday, 25 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Monday, 26 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Tuesday, 27 December 2022 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 |
Open |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Thursday, 29 December 2022 |
Open |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Friday, 30 December 2022 |
Open |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Saturday, 31 January 2022 |
Open |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Sunday, 1 January 2023 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |
|
Monday, 2 January 2023 |
Closed for public holiday |
Yes, if the child would normally have attended on this day and if fees are charged |