Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in Illinois
Illinois CCAP covers families up to 225% FPL at entry (~$72,000 family of 4), 275% FPL at redet — among the highest CCDF thresholds in the U.S. Smart Start cut copays to ~$1/month for the lowest tier. Refundable Illinois Child Tax Credit (40% of IL EITC, doubled for 2025).
Data current as of May 21, 2026
Child care subsidy (CCDF) in Illinois
- Program name
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- Administered by
- Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS); transitioning to the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) effective July 1, 2026
- Income ceiling
- 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).
- Family fee / copay
- Sliding-scale family copay by family size and income, set by the IDHS Income & Copay Chart. Smart Start Illinois lowered copays in 2024 — the lowest-income tier now pays as little as $1 per month.
- Waitlist status
- No typical waitlist — Illinois treats CCAP as entitlement-style: there is no statewide waitlist for eligible applicants. Online applications are available 24/7 through the Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) portal.
- Apply
- abe.illinois.gov/
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Initial eligibility (225% FPL, annual) | Redetermination (275% FPL, annual) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $47,592 | $58,164 |
| 3 | $59,964 | $73,284 |
| 4 | $72,336 | $88,416 |
| 5 | $84,708 | $103,536 |
| 6 | $97,092 | $118,668 |
- Initial eligibility (225% FPL, annual): Maximum gross household income for new applicants.
- Redetermination (275% FPL, annual): Maximum income to keep eligibility after enrollment.
IDHS Income & Copay Chart effective July 1, 2025. Monthly figures annualized for display. Effective July 1, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
State pre-K in Illinois
- Program name
- Preschool for All (PFA) and Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE)
- Administered by
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE); transitioning to IDEC effective July 1, 2026
- Access
- Income-targeted
- Eligibility
- Children ages 3–5 not yet eligible for kindergarten. PFAE prioritizes families at or below 4× FPL with risk factors; PFA serves a broader low-to-moderate income range. Minimum 12.5 hours per week with BA-licensed teachers. Smart Start Illinois targets universal pre-K access by 2027, governance permitting.
- Coverage
- Approximately 34% of Illinois 4-year-olds and 23% of 3-year-olds enrolled in state-funded preschool (NIEER 2023 yearbook). Apply through your local school district.
State tax credits & extras in Illinois
- State CDCC
- Illinois does not offer a state Child and Dependent Care Credit. Illinois does not offer a state Child and Dependent Care Credit. Illinois families claim the federal CDCC on IRS Form 2441 and may also qualify for the refundable Illinois Child Tax Credit (see below).
Other state programs and credits
- Illinois Child Tax Credit — refundable, doubled for tax year 2025Refundable state credit equal to 40% of the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for tax years 2025 and later (doubled from 20% in TY2024). Requires Illinois EITC eligibility and at least one dependent child under age 12 on the last day of the tax year. Computed on Schedule IL-E/EITC, Step 5. Practical amount roughly $300–$600 per family depending on EITC base.
Where to apply or get help in Illinois
- Find a licensed daycare in IllinoisChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- Illinois child care portalwww.illinoiscaresforkids.org/
- Eligibility screenerabe.illinois.gov/
- Combined benefits applicationabe.illinois.gov/
- Illinois 211 (dial 2-1-1)www.211.org/
- IDHS CCAP Eligibility pagewww.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=104995
- Illinois Child Tax Credit — Illinois Department of Revenuetax.illinois.gov/individuals/credits/child-tax-credit.html
- ISBE Early Childhood Educationwww.isbe.net/Pages/Early-Childhood.aspx
- Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA)www.inccrra.org/
- Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) transitionidec.illinois.gov/
- Federal childcare.gov — Illinois resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/illinois/financial-assistance-resources-for-families
Find a daycare in Illinois
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse Illinois's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse Illinois daycaresSources
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.