Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in Delaware
Delaware's Purchase of Care covers families up to 200% FPL at entry (~$64,000 family of 4, raised from 185% in Oct 2025), copay waived below 150% FPL. State CDCC is non-refundable at 50% of federal. ECAP pre-K is income-targeted.
Data current as of June 17, 2026
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Child care subsidy (CCDF) in Delaware
- Program name
- Purchase of Care (POC)
- Administered by
- Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Social Services
- Income ceiling
- 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 eligibility up to 85% State Median Income.
- Family fee / copay
- Copay waived for families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level (DSSM 11004.7, effective July 11, 2024). Above 150% FPL, sliding-scale copay capped at 7% of gross household income, matching the federal CCDF affordability standard at 45 CFR 98.45(k). State copay cap: 7% of family income.
- Waitlist status
- No typical waitlist — Delaware does not maintain a POC waitlist. Provider supply — especially for infants and toddlers in New Castle County — is the binding constraint on access.
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Income ceiling (200% FPL, annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $31,320 |
| 2 | $42,312 |
| 3 | $53,304 |
| 4 | $64,320 |
| 5 | $75,312 |
- Income ceiling (200% FPL, annual): Maximum gross household income for new POC applicants at the entry threshold.
Monthly income limits at 200% FPL effective October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 (federal poverty guidelines × 2). Annualized for display. Effective October 1, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Families receiving TANF
- Children in foster care
- Families experiencing homelessness
State pre-K in Delaware
- Program name
- Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP)
- Administered by
- Delaware Department of Education, Office of Early Learning
- Access
- Income-targeted
- Eligibility
- Free half-day preschool for children ages 3–4. Income eligibility is aligned with Head Start at 100% of the federal poverty level, with up to 35% of enrolled children allowed from households between 100% and 130% FPL (per NIEER's 2024 Delaware ECAP profile). The 200% FPL expansion that took effect in October 2025 applies to Purchase of Care (the child care subsidy), not to ECAP. Categorical eligibility (regardless of income) for foster children, families experiencing homelessness, TANF recipients, and children with documented disabilities.
- Coverage
- Operates through participating community providers; pre-enrollment opens each spring and again in August. Limited capacity — NIEER's 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook (released April 2025, covering the 2023-24 school year) reports total ECAP enrollment of 1,238 children across ages 3 and 4 combined, and ranks Delaware 42nd nationally for 4-year-old access.
State tax credits & extras in Delaware
- State CDCC
- Non-refundable. 50% of the federal CDCC. Per 30 Del. C. § 1114. Non-refundable, so it only offsets Delaware income tax owed. House Bill 274 (introduced January 2026; passed House Revenue & Finance Committee March 2026) would raise the credit to 100% of federal but is not yet law.
Where to apply or get help in Delaware
- Find a licensed daycare in DelawareChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- Delaware child care portaldhss.delaware.gov/dss/childcr/
- Eligibility screenerassist.dhss.delaware.gov/
- Combined benefits applicationassist.dhss.delaware.gov/
- Delaware 211 (dial 2-1-1)www.delaware211.org/
- DHSS Purchase of Care program pagedhss.delaware.gov/dss/childcr/
- ECAP partners and enrollment infoeducation.delaware.gov/families/birth-age-5/early_resources/child_care_options/ecap_partners/
- Federal childcare.gov — Delaware resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/delaware/financial-assistance-resources-for-families
Find a daycare in Delaware
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse Delaware's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse Delaware daycaresSources
- Delaware Purchase of Care (POC) — Division of Social Services
- ASSIST Delaware — integrated benefits application portal
- 30 Del. C. § 1114 — Delaware Child and Dependent Care Credit (50% of federal, non-refundable)
- Delaware ECAP — DOE Office of Early Learning
- Federal childcare.gov — Delaware resources
- DSSM 11004.7 — Determining Child Care Copayments (final rule, eff. July 11, 2024)
- NIEER 2024 State of Preschool Yearbook (Delaware profile, released April 2025)
- Rodel — New federal child care rules for Delaware (Purchase of Care 200% FPL expansion context)
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.