What Is the Income Limit for Child Care Assistance in Florida?

To qualify for child care assistance in Florida through the School Readiness Program, your family’s gross income must be at or below 55 percent of the state median income (SMI) for your household size. This threshold replaced the older 150 percent of the federal poverty level standard on October 1, 2025.¹ The exact dollar cap depends on how many people live in your home, and the figures update each year.

Finding the Dollar Amount for Your Family Size

State median income is the midpoint of all household incomes in Florida, so 55 percent of that figure targets families earning well below what a typical household in the state brings in.² Because SMI is recalculated annually, the qualifying dollar amount for a family of three this year will not be the same next year.

Your local Early Learning Coalition can give you the current cutoff for your household size. You can also call the state’s Child Care Resource and Referral Network at 1-866-357-3239 to confirm the latest numbers before you apply.

What Counts as Income

The program looks at gross income, meaning the total before taxes and deductions. Count the following when you add up your household total:

Wages from employment
Net self-employment earnings
Social Security benefits
Unemployment benefits
Child support received
Alimony
Regular contributions from others
Retirement or pension payments
Annuities
Net rental income

Several sources are excluded. Benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs do not count toward your total.

The household used in the calculation includes the parents or guardians and all dependent children living in the home.

The Higher Limit for Families Already Enrolled

Getting approved is one threshold; staying enrolled is a more generous one. Once your family is receiving School Readiness services, your income can rise to 85 percent of the SMI for your family size and you will still qualify at your next annual review.¹ A raise or a second job will not automatically knock you off the program. Eligibility is reevaluated once a year, and your child may not continue receiving services if your family no longer meets the requirements at that point.³

Graduated Phase-Out

If your income has climbed above 150 percent of the federal poverty level but remains at or below 85 percent of the SMI at redetermination, the program does not cut you off abruptly. Your family enters a graduated phase-out, where your copayment increases on a sliding scale as your income rises.⁴ You absorb higher child care costs gradually rather than losing the subsidy all at once.

School Readiness Plus

Families whose income pushes past 85 percent of the SMI may still qualify for a second-tier program called School Readiness Plus. It covers families earning between 85 and 100 percent of the SMI who recently exited the standard School Readiness Program. Copayments are higher, but the subsidy keeps care more affordable than full private-pay rates while you transition off assistance.⁵

Income Is Not the Only Requirement

Meeting the income cap gets you past the biggest hurdle, but the program has other eligibility rules that apply alongside it.

Work or School Hours

At least one parent must be working or enrolled in an approved educational activity, such as a college or trade school program, for a minimum of 20 hours per week.² In a two-parent household, the combined hours of work or school must total at least 40 per week.⁶ If a parent loses a job or stops attending school, the child continues receiving services for at least three months, and eligibility does not formally end until 90 days after the gap begins.³

Child Age

Children are eligible from birth through age 12. Priority goes to younger children, from birth through the start of the school year when they turn kindergarten age. Eligible siblings can also be covered, starting from their kindergarten year through the beginning of sixth grade, though funding for their slots depends on what local revenue the coalition has available.³

Residency

Your family must live in Florida and show proof of residency when you apply, such as a utility bill or lease agreement.

At-Risk Children

Some children qualify based on circumstances rather than family income alone. Children at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, or whose parents are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, may be eligible. Children of income-eligible migrant workers and children with special needs also fall into priority categories.

Qualifying Does Not Guarantee a Slot

Meeting every eligibility requirement does not guarantee immediate enrollment. The School Readiness Program is not an entitlement, meaning it serves families only until the available funding runs out. Many coalitions maintain waitlists, and there is no set timeline for how long you might wait. Families on the waitlist must revalidate their application every six months or risk being removed.

Federal law requires states to prioritize certain populations when slots open. Children from the lowest-income families and children with special needs get first priority, followed by children experiencing homelessness.⁷ If you fall into one of these categories, mention it when you apply.

1
Florida Department of Education. School Readiness and School Readiness Plus At-a-Glance
2
Florida Department of Education. What Is School Readiness (SR)
3
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 1002.87 – School Readiness Program; Eligibility and Enrollment
4
Florida Department of Education. Rule 6M-4.400 Required Parent Copayment
5
Florida Department of Education. School Readiness Plus Program Frequently Asked Questions
6
Florida Department of Education. School Readiness Prequalification
7
Administration for Children & Families. Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Report on States and Territories Priorities for Child Care Services