Child care assistance planning

Free Childcare Subsidy Calculator

This childcare subsidy calculator estimates whether your family may qualify for state child care assistance and what copay and monthly childcare cost you might expect. It compares your income with 2026 federal poverty guidelines and your state's median income, then links you to official resources to apply.

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Your household

Try an example

Income period

Wages, self-employment, child support, and other income for everyone in the household. States count income differently.

Parents or guardians plus the children who live with you. Your state defines exactly who counts.

Usually children under 13, or under 19 with special needs.

Your provider's full monthly price before any assistance.

Optional. For two-parent homes, use the parent with fewer hours.

Your income and household details stay in this browser tab. Sitter Rank does not collect, store, or send them.

Subsidy estimate

Likely income-eligible

Your income is in the lowest planning band, where families are most commonly income-eligible. Your state agency still makes the decision.

Estimated monthly amount you pay

$0 to $493

of a $1,450 monthly childcare bill in Texas. Planning estimate, not an eligibility decision.

Estimated family copay
$0 to $203
0% to 7% of gross income, per month
Estimated assistance
$957 to $1,450
Paid by the state to your provider, per month
Income vs. poverty guideline
127.4%
2026 guideline for 3: $27,320/yr
Income vs. state median
38.3%
Federal ceiling is 85% ($77,315/yr)

Your income vs. benchmarks for a household of 3

Your gross income
$34,800/yr ($2,900/mo)
130% of poverty (likely band)
$35,516/yr (you are under)
200% of poverty (possible band)
$54,640/yr (you are under)
85% of state median (federal ceiling)
$77,315/yr (you are under)
Childcare cost without help
50% of income

Next steps

  1. Open Texas child care assistance resources on Childcare.gov (opens in a new tab)
  2. Read how child care assistance works (Childcare.gov) (opens in a new tab)

Have pay stubs, proof of work or school schedule, and your provider's details ready. Ask your agency about waitlists and which providers accept subsidies.

How this estimate was calculated
  1. Annual income: $2,900.00 x 12 = $34,800.
  2. 2026 poverty guideline for 3 people: $27,320. Income = 127.4% of poverty.
  3. Texas median income for 3 people: $108,284 (4-person SMI) x 84% size adjustment = $90,959. Income = 38.3% of SMI.
  4. Federal ceiling (85% of SMI): $77,315 a year.
  5. Band: up to 130% of poverty is "likely", up to 200% is "possible", and above that up to 85% of SMI is "less likely".
  6. Copay planning range at 127.4% of poverty: 0% to 7% of $2,900.00 monthly income = $0.00 to $203.00, capped at the care cost.
  7. Assistance high = care cost $1,450.00 - low copay = $1,450.00.
  8. Assistance low = 80% of care cost (state rate below provider price) - high copay = $957.00.
  9. Your monthly share = care cost - assistance = $0.00 to $493.00.

Planning estimate only. It does not guarantee eligibility, a copay amount, or a payment. Your state child care agency decides eligibility, counts income under its own rules, and may have waitlists, asset limits, age limits, or activity requirements not modeled here.

How it works

Estimate child care assistance in four steps

1

Choose your state and household size

Pick your state and count the parents or guardians and children in your household.

2

Enter gross income

Enter household income before taxes and choose whether it is a monthly or annual figure.

3

Add children and childcare cost

Enter how many children need care, the full monthly price, and optional weekly work or school hours.

4

Review the estimate and apply

Check the eligibility signal, copay and assistance ranges, and follow the official state links to apply.

Assumptions and sources

  • Poverty benchmarks use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, with separate Alaska and Hawaii schedules.
  • State median income uses the federal fiscal year 2026 estimates published by HHS, adjusted for household size (52% for 1 person up to 132% for 6, plus 3 points per extra person). Your state may use a different year or adjustment.
  • Federal CCDF rules cap initial eligibility at 85% of state median income. Each state sets its own, often lower, limit. The 130% and 200% of poverty bands are Sitter Rank planning thresholds, not state rules.
  • Copay ranges by income: 0% to 100% of poverty: 0% to 3% of income; 100% to 150% of poverty: 0% to 7% of income; 150% to 200% of poverty: 2% to 8% of income; above 200% of poverty: 4% to 10% of income. The 2026 CCDF final rule removed the federal 7% copay cap, so states set their own scales.
  • The low assistance estimate assumes the state pays only 80% of your provider's price, leaving a rate gap you may owe on top of the copay. The high estimate assumes the state rate covers the full price.

Common questions

Childcare subsidy FAQ

What is a childcare subsidy calculator?

It is a planning tool that compares your household income with the 2026 federal poverty guideline and your state's median income to estimate whether you may qualify for child care assistance, plus a likely copay and how much of your childcare bill a subsidy could cover.

What is the income limit for childcare assistance?

Each state sets its own limit. Under federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) rules, states cannot set the initial income limit above 85% of state median income for the family size, and many set it lower. Some states, such as New Mexico, also run state-funded programs with no income limit.

How much is the copay for subsidized child care?

States set sliding fee scales based on income and family size, and some waive copays for the lowest-income families. The 2026 CCDF final rule removed the federal 7% of income copay cap, so this calculator shows a planning range instead of a single number.

Does a subsidy cover the full cost of daycare?

Not always. States pay providers up to a maximum rate, and if your provider charges more, you may owe the difference on top of your copay. That is why this calculator shows a range for what you pay each month.

Is this calculator an official eligibility decision?

No. Results are planning estimates. Only your state child care agency can decide eligibility, copays, and approved hours. Use the official links in the results to apply or check your state's current rules.

Official overview: How do I get help paying for child care? (Childcare.gov)

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