Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in Maine
Maine CCAP covers families up to 125% SMI with copays capped at 7% (LD 1728, March 2026). State CDCC is 25% of federal (50% with a Star 5 Rising Stars for ME provider), refundable up to $500. Public Pre-K phasing to universal by 2026-27.
Data current as of June 19, 2026
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Child care subsidy (CCDF) in Maine
- Program name
- Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) — formerly Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP)
- Administered by
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services
- Income ceiling
- Family income up to 125% of Maine state median income at entry — a substantially higher ceiling than the federal 85% SMI cap.
- Family fee / copay
- Sliding scale of gross weekly income: $0 for families below 30% SMI; up to 7% for families under 85% SMI (the federal affordability cap, now codified by LD 1728 signed March 2026); up to 10% for families between 85% and 125% SMI. State copay cap: 7% of family income.
- Waitlist status
- No typical waitlist — Maine does not maintain a statewide CCAP waitlist.
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Eligibility ceiling (annual, 125% SMI) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $73,618 |
| 2 | $96,270 |
| 3 | $118,922 |
| 4 | $141,574 |
| 5 | $164,226 |
| 6 | $186,877 |
| 7 | $191,125 |
| 8 | $195,372 |
- Eligibility ceiling (annual, 125% SMI): 125% of Maine State Median Income per Maine DHHS CCAP income limits (effective August 18, 2025). Maximum gross annual income to qualify and remain eligible for CCAP.
Maine DHHS 'Comparison of 85% and 125% State Median Income Limits' document, published on the DHHS CCAP provider resources page (current as of CCAP Full Rule effective August 18, 2025). Annual figures are taken directly from the DHHS-published table for 125% SMI — the outer eligibility ceiling for CCAP. Maine applies a single 125% SMI threshold for both initial application and continued eligibility (substantially above the federal 85% SMI cap). A separate 85% SMI boundary within the program determines copay tiers (≤7% of income below 85% SMI; ≤10% between 85–125% SMI) — that boundary is a copay trigger, not an eligibility threshold. The SMI increment per additional person compresses sharply above family size 6 (from ~$22,652 per person for sizes 1–6, to ~$4,248 per person for sizes 7–8), reflecting the LIHEAP-based SMI methodology for larger households. Effective August 18, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Children with disabilities
- Families experiencing homelessness
- Families with foster children
State pre-K in Maine
- Program name
- Maine Public Preschool Program
- Administered by
- Maine Department of Education; delivered through local school districts
- Access
- Universal
- Eligibility
- All 4-year-olds (and some 3-year-olds in participating districts). No income test; voluntary.
- Coverage
- Approximately 64% of Maine 4-year-olds served in 2025-26. State law (2023) sets a statutory goal of 100% access by the 2026-27 school year.
State tax credits & extras in Maine
- State CDCC
- Refundable. 25% (or 50% with a Star 5 Rising Stars for ME provider) of the federal CDCC. Refundable up to $500. The credit doubles to 50% of the federal CDCC if the care provider holds a Quality Certificate — meaning it is rated Star 5 (the top tier) in Rising Stars for ME, Maine's quality rating system. Filed with Maine Revenue Services.
Other state programs and credits
- Maine Dependent Exemption Tax CreditRefundable since 2024. $305 per dependent age 6 or older; $610 per dependent under age 6 (2025 tax year; inflation-adjusted). Phases out by $20 per $500 of income over $100,000 (single), $125,000 (head of household), or $150,000 (married filing jointly).
Where to apply or get help in Maine
- Find a licensed daycare in MaineChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- Maine child care portalwww.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/support-for-families/child-care/paying-for-child-care
- Eligibility screenersom04.my.site.com/family
- Maine 211 (dial 2-1-1)211maine.org/
- Apply — Maine OCFS CCAP family portalsom04.my.site.com/family
- Maine Public Preschoolwww.maine.gov/doe/learning/earlychildhood/publicpreschool
- Maine Revenue Services — Child Care Creditwww.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/tax-relief-credits-programs/income-tax-credits/child-care-credit
- Maine Dependent Exemption Tax Creditwww.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/tax-relief-credits-programs/income-tax-credits/dependent-exemption-tax-credit
- Federal childcare.gov — Maine resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/maine/financial-assistance-resources-for-families
Find a daycare in Maine
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse Maine's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse Maine daycaresSources
- Maine OCFS — Paying for Child Care
- Maine DHHS — Comparison of 85% and 125% State Median Income Limits (CCAP eligibility) (2025)
- Governor Mills signs LD 1728 Child Care Affordability legislation (March 23, 2026) (2026)
- Maine Revenue Services — Child Care Credit
- Maine Revenue Services — Dependent Exemption Tax Credit
- Maine Public Preschool — DOE
- 36 MRS §5218 — Maine Child Care Credit statute
- Maine Roads to Quality — Dependent Care State Tax Credit FAQ (Star 5 Quality Certificate)
- Federal childcare.gov — Maine 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.