Skip to Content
STATEGeorgiaChild Care
Georgia Child Care Assistance
Childcare and Parent ServicesGeorgia

Check if you qualify in Georgia

Enter your household size and monthly income to see if you qualify for child care subsidy in Georgia. Results are instant, nothing is stored.

For a household of 3, the limit to apply in Georgia is $3,876 a month (50% of state median income) and the limit to stay enrolled is $6,589 (85% of state median income).

This is an estimate based on gross monthly income and household size. It does not include copayments, waitlists, or other rules, and your state agency makes the final decision.

Georgia Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS)

Subsidized child care in Georgia is provided through the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program to help low income families with the cost of child care while they work, go to school or training, or participate in other work-related activities.

The CAPS program is administered in all 159 Georgia counties through the county Department of Family and Children Services.

Families that qualify for the CAPS program can choose their own child care provider. The CAPS program will reimburse child care providers up to a certain amount.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Georgia?

A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is less than 50% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application, which is about $3,876 per month for a family of three.

Here are the new income limits for GA CAPS in 2026.

Child care subsidy income limits by household size, Georgians
Household Size50% SMIInitial Eligibility85% SMIRedetermination
2$3,137$5,334
3$3,876$6,589
4$4,614$7,844
5$5,352$9,099
6$6,090$10,354
7$6,229$10,589
8$6,367$10,824
The income limits are presented as dollar amounts derived from a percentage of either the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or the State Median Income (SMI) for 2026.

How much is the family fee for CAPS in Georgia?

Georgia charges one weekly family fee for all children receiving care. The fee is based on your annual gross applicable income as a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL), and you pay it directly to your provider.1

Family income Family fee
10% or lessNo family fee
Over 10% up to 50%3% of income
Over 50% up to 100%5% of income
Over 100%7% of income

To calculate the weekly fee, multiply your annual income by the applicable percentage, divide by 52, and round down to the nearest dollar. The fee is divided among all children in care. You may also owe the difference between the CAPS payment and your provider’s posted tuition.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Georgia?

Parents can check their potential eligibility and apply for child care online through Georgia Gateway . Once the application is received, a CAPS staff member will contact you to review the information and determine eligibility.

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS)
(877) 255-4254

Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

Footnotes

  1. Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, CAPS Family Fee (Appendix D) , based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines. ↩

SingleMotherGuide.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government agency. Program amounts and income limits are compiled from official federal and state sources, which are cited on the page, and are reviewed periodically and updated as those sources change.

The information is provided for general guidance and is not legal or financial advice. The administering agency makes the final determination of eligibility and benefit amounts. To report an error, please contact us.

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may change; refer to the cited sources for the most current information.

Last updated
Updated by
Ada Hu
Share this article