Purchase of Care
Delaware’s Purchase of Care program subsidizes child care expenses for early learning and after-school care to help low-income families with children under the age of 13. The Division of Social Services (DSS) determines eligibility based on a family’s income and need for service. DSS pays a portion of the childcare cost directly to the child care provider. Families pay a weekly co-pay, determined by their income and need. Families must select a child care provider (center or home-based) that accepts Purchase of Care payments.
Eligibility for Child Care Support
Child care services are available for children under the age of 13. The Division of Social Services determines eligibility based on a family’s income and need for service.
To be financially eligible for child care assistance, a family’s gross monthly income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level for the family size.
If a family’s gross monthly income has increased to between 185% and 200% of the federal poverty level at their yearly redetermination, then the family will receive a graduated phase-out of child care assistance for a 12-month period before the child care case is closed.
Any time that a family’s gross monthly income exceeds 85% of the state median income, or the family no longer has a need for child care assistance, the child care case will close.
What if my child has a special need?
Families whose child has special needs may complete a Child Care Medical Certification Form to determine eligibility for child care support beyond age 13.
Income Eligibility Limits and Sliding Fee Scale
PURCHASE OF CARE (POC) PROGRAM
OCTOBER 1, 2025 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
MONTHLY COPAYMENTS ARE BASED ON COUNTABLE FAMILY INCOME
| Family Size | Max Gross Monthly Income (200% FPL) | Max Gross Monthly Income at Redetermination (300% FPL) | Max Gross Monthly Income during Authorization (85% SMI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,610 | $3,915 | $4,645 |
| 2 | $3,526 | $5,289 | $6,074 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $6,663 | $7,503 |
| 4 | $5,360 | $8,040 | $8,932 |
| 5 | $6,276 | $9,414 | $10,361 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $10,788 | $11,790 |
| 7 | $8,110 | $12,165 | $12,058 |
| 8 | $9,026 | $13,539 | $12,326 |
| 9 | $9,944 | $14,916 | $12,594 |
| 10 | $10,862 | $16,293 | $12,862 |
| 11 | $11,780 | $17,670 | $13,130 |
| 12 | $12,698 | $19,047 | $13,398 |
| 13 | $13,616 | $20,424 | $13,666 |
| 14 | $14,534 | $21,801 | $13,934 |
| 15 | $15,452 | $23,178 | $14,202 |
| 16 | $16,370 | $24,555 | $14,470 |
| 17 | $17,288 | $25,932 | $14,738 |
| 18 | $18,206 | $27,309 | $15,006 |
Purchase of Care Child Care Rates
| Statewide | Family home | Center | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Weekly | Daily | Weekly | |
| Infant (0) | $44.50 | $222.50 | $65.00 | $325.00 |
| Toddler (1) | $40.00 | $200.00 | $58.00 | $290.00 |
| Pre-school (2 to 5) | $40.00 | $200.00 | $51.00 | $255.00 |
| School Age (6 & Over) Full-time | $32.00 | $160.00 | $38.00 | $190.00 |
| School Age (6 & Over) Part-time | $20.00 | $100.00 | $27.00 | $135.00 |
| Infant Special Need (0) | $46.73 | $233.63 | $68.25 | $341.25 |
| Toddler Special Need (1) | $43.25 | $216.25 | $60.90 | $304.50 |
| Preschool Special Need (2 to 5) | $43.25 | $216.25 | $55.69 | $278.45 |
| School Age Special Need (6 & Over) FT | $33.60 | $168.00 | $39.90 | $199.50 |
| School Age Special Need (6 & Over) PT | $21.00 | $105.00 | $28.35 | $141.75 |
How to Apply for Purchase of Care
Use the ASSIST self-service portal to determine eligibility and apply for child care support through Delaware’s Purchase of Care program. You may also visit any Delaware State Service Center.
How to Choose a Child Care Provider
Choosing the right program for your child is one of the most important parenting decisions you will make. To find a State-licensed child care center or family home that accepts Purchase of Care, view this list.
You may also find helpful information in making informed choices regarding child care through Delaware’s comprehensive consumer education website, My Child DE.
For help choosing child care, visit Children and Families First or call 1-800-220-3092.
What Should I Look for in a Quality Child Care Provider?
Delaware Stars for Early Success is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system created to help child care and early education programs measure, improve and communicate the quality of their service.
Information on Child Care Costs
- CCDF Plan for Delaware FFY 2022-2024
- CCDF Plan for Delaware FFY 2022-2024 (Spanish)
- 2024 Delaware Local Child Care Market Rate Survey: Final Report
- 2024 Cost of Care Study Final Report
- 2024 Cost of Care Calculator for Center-based Services
- 2024 Cost of Care Calculator for Family Child Care-based Services
Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates
The Division of Social Services used the 2018 Delaware Local Child Care Market Rate Survey results to set the provider reimbursement rates for child care services subsidized by the State. The child care reimbursement rates are based on the providers geographical location, the ages of the children served, and the hours of care. DSS established the child care reimbursement rates to ensure that low-income families receiving child care subsidy have equal access to early education and care.
Purchase of Care Provider Handbook
Delaware Cost of Quality Child Care Estimator Tool
As required by HB 250 Section 183. The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Delaware Early Childhood Council (DECC), has created a cost of quality child care estimator tool, which enables the state to model the actual costs of providing quality child care. Delaware engaged Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies (P5FS) to support the development of the cost of quality child care estimator tool customized for the state of Delaware. The work on the cost estimator tool was informed by Delaware’s 2021 Cost of Care Study, the 2021 Market Rate Survey, the child care wage scale work completed in 2022, national and local experts, advocates, and early childhood educators. P5FS is led by national early childhood finance experts Jeanna Capito and Simon Workman, P5FS has developed cost estimation models for several states and communities. Their models have informed child care subsidy rate setting and other early childhood policies and are aligned with cost model guidance provided by the U.S. Office of Child Care for alternative rate setting under the Child Care Development Block Grant. We are excited to share the cost of care estimator tools, you will find links to Delaware’s Center and Family Child Care Cost Estimation Tools below. We are also pleased to share the Cost Estimation Model Report for the project below.
