Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in California
California subsidies cover families up to 85% SMI (~$108,000 for a family of four), family fees capped at 1% of monthly income ($0 below 75% SMI). Universal Transitional Kindergarten free for every 4-year-old as of 2025-26. Refundable Young Child Tax Credit up to $1,189.
Data current as of May 21, 2026
Child care subsidy (CCDF) in California
- Program name
- California Child Care Subsidy Programs — CalWORKs Stages 1–3, Alternative Payment (AP), General Child Care, and the Bridge Program for foster families
- Administered by
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Child Care and Development Division
- Income ceiling
- Family income up to 85% of State Median Income, adjusted for family size, for ongoing eligibility.
- Family fee / copay
- Families with income at or below 75% State Median Income pay $0 in family fees. At 75% SMI and above, the monthly family fee is capped at 1% of monthly family income (a permanent reform from the 2023-24 state budget). The federal 2024 Final Rule caps the family fee at 1% of family income.
- Waitlist status
- Multi-year waitlist — California eliminated the statewide Centralized Eligibility List (CEL); counties now run voluntary local waiting lists. Demand exceeds supply — waits commonly run months to years in metro counties. The codified ~200,000-slot expansion goal remains in statute, but the 2025-26 state budget added zero new slots in 2025-26 (a pause year), with about 44,000 promised for 2026-27 and 33,000 for 2027-28.
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Income ceiling (85% SMI, annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $82,326 |
| 2 | $82,326 |
| 3 | $93,418 |
| 4 | $108,237 |
| 5 | $125,555 |
| 6 | $142,873 |
- Income ceiling (85% SMI, annual): Family sizes 1 and 2 use the same minimum-ceiling floor.
85% SMI Schedule of Income Ceilings for State Fiscal Year 2025-26, used by CDSS-contracted Alternative Payment programs statewide. Effective August 1, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Current and former CalWORKs (TANF) recipients (Stages 1, 2, and 3)
- Children of foster / resource families (Bridge Program)
- Families experiencing homelessness
- Children with disabilities or special needs
State pre-K in California
- Program name
- Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK)
- Administered by
- California Department of Education (CDE), delivered by local public school districts
- Access
- Universal
- Eligibility
- All children who turn 4 by September 1 of the school year. No income test. Full universal rollout completed in 2025-26 — every age-eligible California 4-year-old has a free UTK seat.
- Coverage
- Available statewide through every public school district. The California State Preschool Program (CSPP) continues to serve 3-year-olds and provide wrap-around full-day care for working families on a separate income-targeted track.
State tax credits & extras in California
- State CDCC
- 50% (AGI ≤ $40,000), 43% (AGI $40,001–$70,000), 34% (AGI $70,001–$100,000); not available above $100,000 federal AGI of the federal CDCC. Refundable for families with AGI of $40,000 or less; non-refundable for families with AGI between $40,001 and $100,000. Claimed on FTB Form 3506.
Other state programs and credits
- Young Child Tax Credit — refundable, up to $1,189 per family for tax year 2025Refundable state credit for families with at least one qualifying child under age 6 at year-end. Requires CalEITC eligibility (earned income up to $32,900; net loss allowed up to $35,640). Claimed on FTB Form 3514. Paid back to you as cash even if you owe no state income tax.
- California State Preschool Program (CSPP)Income-targeted preschool (up to 100% State Median Income) for 3- and 4-year-olds via CDE-contracted agencies. Useful complement to UTK for 3-year-olds and for working families needing wrap-around full-day care. Apply through CDE-contracted preschool providers.
- Emergency Child Care Bridge ProgramTime-limited child care assistance for foster / resource families during placement transitions. Administered by county welfare departments.
Where to apply or get help in California
- Find a licensed daycare in CaliforniaChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- California child care portalwww.mychildcare.ca.gov/
- Eligibility screenerwww.benefitscal.com/
- Combined benefits applicationwww.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-and-development
- California 211 (dial 2-1-1)www.211ca.org/
- California State Preschool Program (CSPP)www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/
- UTK FAQ — California Department of Educationwww.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp
- Family Fee Rate Calculator (CDSS)ccffrc.ccdd.dss.ca.gov/
- Young Child Tax Credit eligibility & calculator (CalEITC4Me)www.caleitc4me.org/young-child-tax-credit/
- Local waiting list contacts by county (CDE)www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/waitinglistcontacts.asp
- Federal childcare.gov — California resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/california/financial-assistance-resources-for-families
Find a daycare in California
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse California's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse California daycaresSources
- 85% SMI Schedule of Income Ceilings 2025-26 — Pomona USD (mirror of CDE/CCRC schedule) (2025)
- State Median Income 2025-2026 (PDF) — Child Care Resource Center (2025)
- Family Fee Reform — California Budget & Policy Center
- Family Fee Rate Calculator — CDSS
- Young Child Tax Credit $1,189 for tax year 2025 — CalEITC4Me (2025)
- Young Child Tax Credit — California Franchise Tax Board
- FTB 3506 instructions (2025) — California Child and Dependent Care Credit (2025)
- UTK universal rollout completed 2025-26 — California Department of Education (2025)
- California State Preschool Program 100% SMI eligibility (MB 24-05) — CDE (2024)
- LAO 2025-26 Spending Plan, Child Care (2025)
- CDSS Child Care and Development
- Federal childcare.gov — California 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.