Check if you qualify in Tennessee
Enter your household size and monthly income to see if you qualify for child care subsidy in Tennessee. Results are instant, nothing is stored.
For a household of 3, the limit to apply in Tennessee is $6,113 a month (85% of state median income) and the limit to stay enrolled is $6,113 (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.
Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program
Parents participating in the Families First program who need help paying for child care may receive financial assistance with the cost of child care.
Parents may be required to contribute towards their child care expenses. This contribution is as a weekly co-pay that each parent or guardian pays directly to their child care provider.
Beginning October 1, 2025, every family approved for child care payment assistance is assessed a co-pay of 5% of income.1 Co-pays remain waived for families approved through Families First, the Early Head Start partnership, Mental Health and Substance Abuse services, and the Department of Children’s Services (DCS). Because of budget changes, a waitlist for new applicants began on August 26, 2025.
What is the income limit for child care assistance in Tennessee?
A family is considered “income eligible ” when the total gross monthly income is less than 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application or $6,113 per month for a family of three.
| Household Size | 85% SMIInitial Eligibility | 85% SMIRedetermination |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $4,948 | $4,948 |
| 3 | $6,113 | $6,113 |
| 4 | $7,277 | $7,277 |
| 5 | $8,441 | $8,441 |
| 6 | $9,606 | $9,606 |
| 7 | $9,824 | $9,824 |
| 8 | $10,042 | $10,042 |
How much is the co-pay for the Child Care Certificate Program in Tennessee?
Tennessee sets the weekly co-pay at 5% of your countable monthly gross household income, divided by 4.3 and rounded down to the nearest dollar, and then divided equally among your eligible children. For example, a family of four earning $3,900 a month may pay $45 a week, or $22.50 per child with two children in care.2 You pay the co-pay directly to your provider, and you may also owe extra fees or the difference if the provider charges more than the state pays. The co-pay may be waived for families approved through Families First, the Early Head Start partnership, Mental Health and Substance Abuse services, or DCS.
How do I apply for child care assistance in Tennessee?
To apply for the service, contact your local DHS office to get an appointment for an eligibility interview or apply online through the One DHS Customer Portal .
Once approved for child care payment assistance, the family may choose the type of care their best meets their needs. Child care providers can be located at Find Child Care .
Tennessee Department of Human Services
One DHS Contact Center
(833) 772-8347
Sources & notes
Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:
Footnotes
-
Tennessee Department of Human Services, Update on Child Care Funding , co-pay changes effective October 1, 2025. ↩
-
Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Certificate Program: Income Eligibility Limits and Parent Co-Pay Fees , effective October 1, 2026. ↩
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