States with the lowest child care subsidy income ceilings, ranked (family of 4, 2026)

Last updated May 28, 2026 · By Childery · How we computed this

The federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) sets a ceiling of 85% of State Median Income (SMI) as the upper bound on subsidy eligibility — but states are free to use any threshold at or below that floor, and most do. The lower a state's published income ceiling, the more narrowly targeted its program, and the more working-class families fall just above the cutoff with no subsidy support.

This ranking shows the entry-eligibility income for a family of 4 in each state where a structured income table is published. States that publish only qualitative text (e.g. '50% SMI at entry') without a dollar table sort to the bottom — not because their program is worse, but because their published methodology doesn't allow direct dollar comparison.

Rank		Annual gross income at initial application.
1	Georgia	$31,768	Family gross income up to 30% of State Median Income (SMI) at initial application — reduced from 50% SMI in September 2024, now the lowest initial threshold in the country. Up to 85% SMI for continuing eligibility and re
2	Mississippi	$33,319	Entry ceiling 85% State Median Income. Policy distinguishes Very Low Income (≤50% SMI) from Low Income (50–85% SMI) for priority and copay tiering.
3	Nevada	$39,371	New applicants: family income up to 41% State Median Income (~$39,371 annual for a family of four). Renewals: up to 49% SMI (~$47,053 for a family of four). Pre-pandemic levels restored October 1, 2024 after ARPA stabili
4	Idaho	$41,795	Family income up to 130% of the federal poverty level at initial application; up to 175% FPL for continued eligibility. The entry threshold was tightened from 175% FPL to 130% FPL when the program reopened in January 202
5	Indiana	$44,556	Family income up to 135% of the federal poverty level at initial application (approximately $44,556 for a family of four based on 2026 FPL), effective April 5, 2026 — raised from 127% FPL. Continuing eligibility up to 85
6	Ohio	$46,620	PFCC initial enrollment up to 145% of the federal poverty level — one of the three lowest entry thresholds in the country. Exit threshold up to 300% FPL at redetermination. The new Child Care Choice program (HB 96 budget
7	Missouri	$48,228	Initial eligibility up to 85% State Median Income. Full benefit (no transitional fee) for families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Above 150% FPL, three sliding-fee tiers extend eligibility to 242% FPL.
8	Virginia	$49,920	Locality-based tiers (Group I / II / III) determined by your locality, not a single statewide dollar figure. Group I: 150% FPL; Group II: 160% FPL; Group III: 185% FPL (for families without a child age 5 or younger). Fam
9	Iowa	$51,440	Family income up to 160% of the federal poverty level at initial application (200% FPL if the child has special needs); continuing eligibility up to 225% FPL under the CCA Plus phase. HF 2514 (signed April 2026) made the
10	Arizona	$53,064	Initial application: at or below 165% FPL (2025 HHS guidelines) — $4,422/month ($53,064/year) for a family of four, effective October 1, 2025. Redetermination: at or below 85% State Median Income — $7,649/month ($91,788/
11	Alabama	$54,000	Initial eligibility is based on state median income (SMI), varying by family size: 59% SMI for a 2-person family, 60% for 3, 61% for 4, 62% for 5 (approximately $35,496–$63,252 annually for families of 2–5, effective Jan
12	Nebraska	$55,500	Initial eligibility at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (~$59,000 for a family of four); transitional eligibility extended to 200% FPL. LB304 (signed April 14, 2026) eliminated the prior October 2026 sunset and
13	Florida	$56,688	HB 859 (2025, effective October 1) raised the entry threshold to the greater of 50% State Median Income or 150% federal poverty level. Continuing eligibility up to 85% SMI.
14	West Virginia	$57,720	Standard eligibility ceiling: 185% of the federal poverty level (FY2024 FPL), per BFA Appendix A: Eligibility Fee Scale (effective October 1, 2024). The 'Intake Cap' in the fee scale is at 185% FPL for all family sizes —
15	Wyoming	$57,756	Initial applications accepted at Step 4 or below — family income at or below 175% FPL (~$4,813/month or $57,756/year for a family of four, effective April 1, 2026). Continuing families may remain enrolled through Step 5
16	Montana	$59,472	Family income up to 185% of the federal poverty level (~$45,000 for a family of three). HB 648 (2023) raised the ceiling from 150% FPL and capped family copay at 9% of household income (down from up to ~20%) effective Ju
17	Michigan	$64,296	Initial eligibility at or below 200% FPL — $5,358/month ($64,296/year) for a family of four effective September 21, 2025 (based on 2025 HHS FPL). Continuing eligibility up to 85% State Median Income — $8,291/month ($99,4
18	North Carolina	$64,296	Initial eligibility: family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for children birth through age 5 (and children with special needs); 133% FPL for school-age children (6–12). Continuing eligibility cuts of
19	Delaware	$64,320	Family income up to 200% of the federal poverty level at entry (raised from 185% effective October 1, 2025), with graduated phase-out extending to 300% FPL during the 12-month continued-eligibility window. Continuing eli
20	Oregon	$66,000	Initial application up to 200% of the federal poverty level (raised from 185% FPL). Ongoing/exit eligibility extends to 250% FPL or 85% State Median Income, whichever is higher.
21	Pennsylvania	$66,000	Initial eligibility up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Families may remain enrolled up to 300% FPL at redetermination (codified in 2025-26 Human Services Code language).
22	Wisconsin	$66,000	Initial eligibility at or below 200% of the federal poverty level — $5,500/month ($66,000/year) for a family of four effective February 1, 2026. Continuing eligibility up to 85% State Median Income — $8,723/month ($104,6
23	Minnesota	$67,679	Two-tiered. MFIP/DWP (Minnesota Family Investment Program / Diversionary Work Program) families: at or below 67% State Median Income at application — entitlement with no waitlist. Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) families: at or
24	New Hampshire	$68,640	Tier 1 (initial entry): household gross income at or below 220% of the federal poverty guideline. Tier 2 (Graduated Phase Out, GPO): above 220% FPG and at or below 85% State Median Income (~$113,432 annual for a family o
25	South Dakota	$68,976	Family income up to 209% of the federal poverty level at initial application (about $4,758/month for a family of three, effective March 1, 2026). Continuing eligibility extends to 85% State Median Income at redeterminati
26	Illinois	$72,336	Family income up to 225% of the federal poverty level at initial application; up to 275% FPL at redetermination (then graduated phase-out until 85% SMI cancellation).
27	Kentucky	$74,424	Family income up to 85% of State Median Income at initial application, case changes, and recertification (single threshold since July 1, 2022 per 922 KAR 2:160 §8).
28	Arkansas	$76,738	Family income up to 85% State Median Income. Priority to lowest-income working families and to children younger than school age.
29	Oklahoma	$79,848	Currently up to 85% State Median Income through June 30, 2026 (about $79,846/year for a family of four). Reverts to 55% SMI on July 1, 2026 — the pre-pandemic baseline — as ARPA-era funding ends. Effective January 12, 20
30	New Jersey	$80,375	Multi-tier. Tier D (entry / redetermination) up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Tier E (Graduated Phase-Out, one year only at redetermination) up to 85% State Median Income. Families must report income over 85% SMI
31	Louisiana	$81,432	Family gross income up to 85% of State Median Income (SMI) at initial application and for continued eligibility — Louisiana operates at the federal maximum threshold. For a family of three, approximately $5,700 per month
32	Kansas	$82,500	Entry: family income up to 250% of the federal poverty level (approximately $6,875/month or $82,500/year for a family of four based on 2026 HHS FPL). Continuing eligibility up to 85% of the State Median Income (approxima
33	Massachusetts	$82,800	Initial eligibility up to 85% State Median Income (about $82,800 for a family of four) — raised from 50% SMI effective January 1, 2026. Families at or below 50% SMI receive priority access.
34	Washington	$83,580	Initial eligibility up to 60% State Median Income; reapplication threshold today is 65% SMI (~$90,552/year for a family of four). The Fair Start for Kids Act's planned expansion to 75% SMI (originally July 2025) was dela
35	Hawaii	$83,820	Family gross income up to 85% State Median Income at both entry and continuing eligibility — $6,985/month ($83,820/year) for a family of four, per the August 2024 DHS information sheet. Limits adjusted annually with SMI
36	Rhode Island	$86,130	Initial eligibility up to 261% of the federal poverty level (raised from 200% FPL effective January 1, 2025). Continuing eligibility up to 300% FPL via Transitional Child Care at redetermination.
37	South Carolina	$87,161	Gross family income up to 85% State Median Income (about $87,161 for a family of four).
38	Tennessee	$87,324	Up to 85% State Median Income at initial application (~$87,324/year for a family of four per the FFY 2026 SMI schedule effective October 1, 2025). Smart Steps Plus covers working families between 85% and 100% SMI (~$102,
39	Alaska	$88,464	Family income up to 85% of State Median Income (SMI). Senate Bill 189 (signed 2024) funds an expansion to 105% SMI and a 7% income copay cap, pending federal approval and implementation in the FY 2026 budget.
40	Maryland	$90,033	Initial eligibility up to 75% State Median Income (~$90,033 for a family of four); continuing eligibility up to 85% SMI (~$108,675 for a family of four).
41	Connecticut	$91,854	Family income up to 60% of State Median Income at initial application; up to 85% SMI for continuing eligibility and redetermination. Copay capped at 7% of monthly income (reduced from 10% in January 2025).
42	Texas	$92,041	Family income up to 85% of State Median Income for the family size, with assets under $1 million. Local Workforce Development Boards may set lower entry thresholds based on available funding.
43	District of Columbia	$93,600	Family income up to 300% of the federal poverty level at entry; up to 85% State Median Income ($134,160 for a family of four) for continued eligibility at 12-month redetermination.
44	North Dakota	$97,428	Initial eligibility at or below 75% State Median Income (reduced from 85% SMI under the prior ARPA-era expansion, effective July 1, 2025). Families currently enrolled with income between 76–85% SMI keep one additional 18
45	Utah	$100,020	Up to 85% State Median Income at entry and continuing (Utah does not use a lower initial threshold than the federal cap). Family-of-four limit (effective April 1, 2026): $8,335 per month ($100,020/year).
46	California	$108,237	Family income up to 85% of State Median Income, adjusted for family size, for ongoing eligibility.
47	Colorado	$108,237	Up to 85% State Median Income as the state ceiling. Counties may set lower entry thresholds based on available funding but must serve families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.
48	New York	$113,568	Family income up to 85% of State Median Income, raised statewide by the 2024 NYS budget. Counties had previously set ceilings as low as 200% FPL; the 85% SMI uniform floor now applies statewide.
49	Maine	$141,574	Family income up to 125% of Maine state median income at entry — a substantially higher ceiling than the federal 85% SMI cap.
50	Vermont	$172,500	Family income up to 575% of the federal poverty level (about $172,500 for a family of four under the 2024 federal poverty guidelines) — phased in fully on October 6, 2024 under Act 76 / H.217. Among the highest ceilings
51	New Mexico	Not structured	No income limit. SB 241 (signed March 10, 2026) codified universal no-cost child care for any New Mexico family who is working or going to school, regardless of income or immigration status. Several groups are exempt fro

Methodology

Entry-eligibility figures are pulled from the first column of each state's `incomeLimits` table for family size 4. Most states publish three columns: very-low-income priority (typically 50% FPL), initial-eligibility (varies by state), and ongoing-eligibility (typically 85% SMI under the 2024 federal Final Rule). We use the *initial* column because that's the cutoff a new applicant faces.

Apples-to-apples comparison is only possible within the structured-table cohort. State programs differ on what counts as income (gross vs. net), what household composition counts, and how often the published tables re-index against federal SMI / FPL updates. The right way to interpret a low-ceiling rank is "narrow targeting," not "weak program." New York at $99k for a family of 4 and Mississippi at $54k are technically comparable on the entry threshold, but the program designs around them are quite different.

States without a structured dollar table fall into one of two categories: (1) the program publishes only a qualitative ceiling like '50% SMI' without a dollar conversion (sorts to the bottom with a 'Not structured' tag), or (2) the program uses a benefit cliff or work-requirement design that doesn't have a simple income ceiling. Visit the linked state subsidy page for the full text.

For the full cross-ranking methodology — data vintages, inclusion rules, and reproducibility notes — see How Childery computes its state rankings.

Sources

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