Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in South Carolina
South Carolina's Child Care Scholarship covers families up to 85% SMI (~$87,000 family of 4), but new applications for the Working Families track paused December 1, 2025 — only priority categories enrolling. State CDCC is 7% of federal, max $210/$420, non-refundable.
Data current as of June 17, 2026
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Child care subsidy (CCDF) in South Carolina
- Program name
- SC Child Care Scholarship Program (formerly ABC Voucher)
- Administered by
- South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS); ABC Quality is the QRIS arm
- Income ceiling
- Gross family income up to 85% State Median Income (about $87,161 for a family of four).
- Family fee / copay
- Sliding-scale weekly copay by family size and income, paid directly to the provider. Only ABC Quality-rated providers accept scholarship payments.
- Waitlist status
- Currently closed to new applications — Effective December 1, 2025 SCDSS paused new applications for the Working Families / Strong Start track due to funding constraints. The pause does not apply to protected/priority categories. Activity requirement is at least 15 hours per week of work, school, or training (pending bill S.770 would raise to 20).
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Maximum eligibility ceiling (annual, 85% SMI) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $45,324 |
| 2 | $59,269 |
| 3 | $73,215 |
| 4 | $87,161 |
| 5 | $101,106 |
| 6 | $115,052 |
| 7 | $117,667 |
| 8 | $120,282 |
- Maximum eligibility ceiling (annual, 85% SMI): Maximum annual gross family income per SC DSS Child Care Income Standards, October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026. Based on 85% of SC State Median Income. A pause on new Working Families / Strong Start applications has been in effect since December 1, 2025; priority categories are still enrolling.
SC DSS Child Care Income Standards, October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 (scchildcare.org/media/pskhwthx/income-guidelines-2025-2026.pdf). The table publishes annual gross income thresholds based on 85% of South Carolina State Median Income. All values taken directly from the 'Income Threshold Annually — Maximum' column. F4 = $87,161 as confirmed in the SCDSS scholarship program description. Effective October 1, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Families receiving TANF
- Children with special needs
- Families experiencing homelessness
- Families involved with child welfare
- Families experiencing domestic violence
State pre-K in South Carolina
- Program name
- Child Early Reading Development and Education Program (CERDEP) — public-school 4K and First Steps 4K
- Administered by
- SC Department of Education (public-school track) and SC First Steps (private-provider track)
- Access
- Income-targeted
- Eligibility
- Children must be 4 by September 1. Family income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, OR Medicaid-eligible, OR documented eligibility need.
- Coverage
- Approximately 30–35% of South Carolina 4-year-olds enrolled (NIEER 2023-24). Waitlists are maintained at the school level when demand exceeds capacity.
State tax credits & extras in South Carolina
- State CDCC
- Non-refundable. 7% of the federal CDCC. Non-refundable. Maximum credit $210 (one child) or $420 (two or more). Full-year SC residents only; married filing separately is ineligible. Filed per SC Code 12-6-3380.
Where to apply or get help in South Carolina
- Find a licensed daycare in South CarolinaChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- South Carolina child care portalwww.scchildcare.org/
- Eligibility screenerbenefitsportal.dss.sc.gov/
- Combined benefits applicationbenefitsportal.dss.sc.gov/
- South Carolina 211 (dial 2-1-1)www.211.org/
- SC Child Care Scholarship Programwww.scchildcare.org/programs/child-care-scholarship-program/
- SC DOR — Family tax creditsdor.sc.gov/tax-tips/take-advantage-these-family-tax-credits-and-deductions
- CERDEP — SC Department of Educationed.sc.gov/instruction/early-learning-and-literacy/cerdep/
- Federal childcare.gov — South Carolina resourceschildcare.gov/state-resources/south-carolina
Find a daycare in South Carolina
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse South Carolina's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse South Carolina daycaresSources
- SC DSS Child Care Income Standards (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026) (2025)
- SC Child Care Scholarship Program — scchildcare.org
- SC Code 12-6-3380 — Child and Dependent Care Credit
- SC DOR — Family tax credits
- CERDEP 2025-2026 Guidelines — SC Department of Education (2025)
- Federal childcare.gov — South Carolina 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.