Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in Alabama
Alabama's Child Care Subsidy covers families up to 180% of the federal poverty level at entry (~$57,876/year for a family of 4); continuing eligibility to 200% FPL. First Class Pre-K is universal for 4-year-olds (no income test, lottery-allocated). No state child care tax credit.
Data current as of June 21, 2026
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Child care subsidy (CCDF) in Alabama
- Program name
- Alabama Child Care Subsidy Program
- Administered by
- Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Office of Child Care Subsidy
- Income ceiling
- Initial eligibility is based on the federal poverty level (FPL): new families are admitted with income up to 180% FPL (about $57,876/year for a family of 4 per the Alabama DHR Child Care Fact Sheet effective January 1, 2026). Continuing eligibility extends up to 200% FPL.
- Family fee / copay
- Weekly fee per child on a sliding scale by family size and income: $0/week for families below 100% FPL, rising to about $39/week at the top of the initial-eligibility scale and a maximum of $45/week near the continuing-eligibility ceiling. Fees are waived for priority categories.
- Waitlist status
- Currently closed to new applications — Effective May 8, 2026, DHR placed all new non-priority applications on a statewide waitlist until further notice; slots are filled first-come, first-served as they open. New applications are still processed immediately only for the priority categories below.
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Initial eligibility ceiling (annual, 180% FPL) |
|---|---|
| 2 | $38,076 |
| 3 | $47,976 |
| 4 | $57,876 |
| 5 | $67,776 |
- Initial eligibility ceiling (annual, 180% FPL): Top of the initial-eligibility scale (171-180% FPL band) per the Alabama DHR Child Care Fact Sheet (Jan 1, 2026), annualized (× 12). Maximum gross income at initial application.
Alabama DHR Child Care Fact Sheet, effective January 1, 2026. Eligibility is defined entirely as a percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), not State Median Income — the fact sheet's Initial Eligibility Monthly Income Scale runs in bands from 0-100% FPL through 171-180% FPL, with new admission allowed up to 180% FPL and continuing eligibility up to 200% FPL. The rows below show the top of the initial scale (the 171-180% FPL band ceiling), taken from the fact sheet's monthly figures and annualized (× 12). Family size 1 is not separately published. Confirm exact figures against the current DHR fact sheet before relying on a specific number. Effective January 1, 2026; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Protective Service cases
- Foster Care
- DHR Early Head Start–Child Care partnership families
- TANF Other Relative caregivers
- Transitional (post-TANF) families
- JOBS program participants
State pre-K in Alabama
- Program name
- First Class Pre-K
- Administered by
- Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE)
- Access
- Universal
- Eligibility
- Alabama resident, four years old by September 1 of the school year. No income test; admission is by random lottery within each classroom because seats are capacity-limited. No registration fee. Children eligible for kindergarten are not eligible.
- Coverage
- Approximately 24,238 children enrolled in 2024-25 — about 40% of Alabama 4-year-olds (NIEER 2025 Yearbook). First Class Pre-K has met all 10 NIEER quality benchmarks for 20 consecutive years — the longest unbroken streak in the country. Six states met all 10 benchmarks in the NIEER 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 data); Alabama is the only one to have done so every year since the benchmarks began. 6.5-hour day.
State tax credits & extras in Alabama
- State CDCC
- Alabama does not offer a state Child and Dependent Care Credit. Alabama does not allow a state child care tax credit (per Alabama Department of Revenue). The federal CDCC (claimed on IRS Form 2441) is the only income-tax-based credit Alabama families can use for child care expenses.
Where to apply or get help in Alabama
- Find a licensed daycare in AlabamaChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- Alabama child care portaldhr.alabama.gov/child-care/subsidy-overview/
- Eligibility screeneral-arise-publicaccess.citigovcloud.com/Account/FamilyLogin
- Combined benefits applicationdhr.alabama.gov/family-assistance/family-assistance-program-eligibility-requirements/
- Alabama 211 (dial 2-1-1)211connectsalabama.org/
- ARISE CARE Family Portal — apply for child care subsidyal-arise-publicaccess.citigovcloud.com/Account/FamilyLogin
- First Class Pre-K programwww.children.alabama.gov/adece/first-class-pre-k/
- Federal childcare.gov — Alabama resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/alabama/financial-assistance-resources-for-families
Find a daycare in Alabama
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse Alabama's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse Alabama daycaresSources
- Alabama DHR — Child Care Subsidy Overview
- Alabama DHR — Change to Child Care Subsidy Approval Process (statewide waitlist effective May 8, 2026) (2026)
- Alabama CCDF FFY 2025-2027 State Plan (2025)
- Alabama DHR Child Care Fact Sheet (January 2026) (2026)
- Alabama Department of Revenue — Childcare expenses FAQ (confirms no state credit)
- ADECE First Class Pre-K
- First Class Pre-K application portal
- NIEER 2025 Alabama State Profile (First Class Pre-K coverage, quality benchmarks) (2025)
- Federal childcare.gov — Alabama resources
Every state layers its own program on top of a federal floor — CCDF (the federal block grant), Head Start, the federal DCFSA (employer pre-tax benefit), and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit. See the federal overview for what the floor looks like before any state adds.