New Mexico Child Care Assistance
New Mexico Child Care Assistance Program
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps cover the cost of child care for families who are working, are working, in school or in job training.
With New Mexico’s move to universal child care , CCAP has supported all families regardless of income since November 1, 2025, making New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer no-cost universal child care.
What is the income limit for child care assistance in New Mexico?
New Mexico now offers free child care to all families, regardless of income level. The program was previously available to any family member or any family whose income was below 400% of the federal poverty level.
Families with income above 600% of the federal poverty level can get help only for the hours of care covered by their work or school schedule.1
Will New Mexico child care assistance require copays?
Child care assistance is currently free for eligible families, but state law allows copayments to resume with a 90 days’ notice before any copayment starts.1 The law, Senate Bill 241, was signed on March 10, 2026 and took effect on May 20, 2026.2
The department may reinstate copayments, a waitlist or both if any of these is met in a given year:
- The number of children served is more than 3% above the year’s projected enrollment.
- State revenue growth is projected to be lower than inflation.
- The 12-month average change in consumer prices is above 3%.
- The average price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil is below $50 a barrel.
- The department identifies another condition.
If copayments start, they are charged monthly on this sliding scale:1
| Household income (federal poverty level) | Copayment |
|---|---|
| 600% or less | None (waived) |
| Above 600% up to 900% | Up to 3% of annual household income, and no more than 25% of the average rate the state pays for the child’s age group |
| Above 900% | Up to 7% of annual household income, and no more than 50% of that average rate |
How do I apply for child care assistance in New Mexico?
You can apply for child care assistance through the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), which administers the state’s Child Care Assistance Program.
New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department
Child Care Assistance – Customer Service
(800) 832-1321
If you need help selecting a child care provider, call
Child Care Resource and Referral
(800) 691-9067
Sources & notes
Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:
Footnotes
-
New Mexico Legislature, Senate Bill 241 (2026) , Child Care Assistance Program Act, Sections 3 and 4. ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, 2026 Legislative Session . ↩
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