Daycare Assistance Income Guidelines

Low-income families can get assistance from their state with daycare costs. Every state has daycare assistance, but the guidelines and requirements vary by state. Having a general idea of what your income should be in order to receive assistance will help you decide if you may qualify or not.

  1. The Poverty Level

    • In general, in order to receive daycare assistance, your income should be around or lower than the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For a family of two, that means $29,140 per year. For a family of three, it is $36,620 per year. For a family of four, it is $44,100. For a family of five, it is $51,580 per year. For a family of six, it is $59,060 per year. For a family of seven, it is $66,540 per year, and for a family of eight, it is $74,020 per year. If your income is slightly above, at, or below the poverty line, you should check with your state to see if you are eligible for daycare assistance.

    Other Guidelines

    • In most states, a low income is not the only requirement for daycare assistance. Each adult in the household must also work 20 hours per week or work ten hours per week and spend ten hours per week in higher education or vocational training school. If you normally make enough money to send your child to daycare but were forced to take a pay cut in order to go to school, you may be eligible for daycare assistance through your state. The hours you send your child to daycare must coincide with your work or school hours. The parent will also be responsible for a copay. The copay varies from state to state and depends on your income, but copays generally range from $5 to $25 per week, which helps the state cover your daycare costs.
      You may be put on a waitlist for daycare assistance if your income falls at the high end of the eligible range and your state is currently out of funding for its daycare assistance program.

    Proof

    • In order to receive daycare assistance, you will have to prove that you meet the guidelines, especially the income guidelines. When you apply for assistance, you'll need to show proof of your employment, meaning several pay stubs, a statement from your employer, or last year's tax return. You'll also need to provide documentation for all other funds you may be receiving, like social security and other state program money, inheritances, and other assets.

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