Check if you qualify in Maryland
Enter your household size and monthly income to see if you qualify for child care subsidy in Maryland. Results are instant, nothing is stored.
For a household of 3, the limit to apply in Maryland is $8,091 a month (75% of state median income) and the limit to stay enrolled is $9,170 (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.
Maryland Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program
According to the Maryland State Department of Education, the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program has been in a partial enrollment freeze since May 1, 2025. New families are placed on a waitlist, and scholarships are issued as spaces become available. Families receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and families experiencing homelessness, are exempt from the waitlist.1
Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland.
Eligible families receive a 52-week scholarship from the local department of social services paid directly to the provider of their choice and the remaining cost is co-paid by the recipient.
Families already receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TANF) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will have a $0 co-payment.
What is the income limit for child care assistance in Maryland?
A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is at or below 75% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application or about $8,091 per month for a family of three.
| Household Size | 75% SMIInitial Eligibility | 85% SMIRedetermination |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $6,550 | $7,423 |
| 3 | $8,091 | $9,170 |
| 4 | $9,632 | $10,917 |
| 5 | $11,173 | $12,663 |
| 6 | $12,715 | $14,410 |
| 7 | $13,004 | $14,737 |
| 8 | $13,293 | $15,065 |
What is the family share for the Maryland Child Care Scholarship?
Families pay a sliding-scale family share set by the Maryland Child Care Scholarship Program. Your family share is given to you when your case is approved.
How do I apply for child care assistance in Maryland?
To apply for a Child Care Scholarship, you must submit an application through the Child Care Scholarship Family Portal along with proof of wages and residency. Because of the partial enrollment freeze, new applicants who are not exempt are placed on a waitlist until a scholarship becomes available.
Maryland State Department of Education
Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Central
(877) 227-0125
Sources & notes
Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:
Footnotes
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Maryland State Department of Education, Child Care Scholarship enrollment freeze . ↩
About this information
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.
Data freshness
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