09/18/2026
***Update on ABC Scholarship program***
Providers just received this email- watch for waiting list information October 1 and please join the waitlist if you have had ABC in the past or think you might qualify. I spoke with the Director of ABC personally last week and she said the list will help them show the need for additional funds. It’s important that the waitlist is long!!!
Here is the letter received:
Dear ABC Quality Child Care Provider,
The Department of Social Services (DSS) and our Division of Early Care and Education are pleased to share an important update regarding the Child Care Scholarship Program and the launch of a wait list for scholarship applications that will launch soon. Since the announcement of limiting scholarship applications to only federally protected categories due to limited funding on December 1, 2025, we know this has had a major impact on the children and families you serve as well as your own families and employees. The Child Care Scholarship Wait List is on target to launch and open to the public on October 1, 2026. This will allow parents and caregivers who are not in a federally protected category to add their name to the wait list for child care assistance. We anticipate being able to begin pulling families from the wait list in the near future as along as available scholarship funding allows.
In order to maximize available funding, there will be adjustments to the way we serve children in non-federally protected categories, which is at the discretion of DSS. With the launch of the wait list, we will be re-opening the Working Families Child Care Scholarship with some specific eligibility parameters.
Here are the criteria for families that may be eligible to apply for the Working Families Child Care Scholarship:
Eligible children must be between the ages of 0-5 years old and not enrolled in kindergarten.Funding will be limited to two children per household ages 0-5. No additional children will be added.Income guidelines are being reduced to 55% State Median Income (SMI) for initial eligibility. Families must be at or below the 55% SMI at the time of the application and may continue to receive child care until the child ages out or the family exceeds the exit income of 85% SMI as long as all other criteria are met.The new income guidelines apply to both the Working Family Child Care Scholarship as well as the protected categories. (Attached are the updated income standards that are effective 10/1/2026).Applicants must be working, in school, in training or temporarily or permanently disabled.Verification of work, school, training, or disability will be required.Families will have a co-pay determined by the family size and family gross monthly income. Families with income at or below 150% FPL will not have to pay a copay.Eligible children will receive 12 months of child care eligibility once approved.Once a family is pulled from the wait list, a scholarship is not guaranteed. The family needing care will receive a unique email with a link to apply and complete their application for the Working Family Child Care Scholarship. Parents, please make sure your contact information is correct and up to date when submitting information to the wait list.
At the time the parent applies using the email link, they must already have selected and secured a child care provider. Once pulled from the wait list, parents will have 15 calendar days to apply, submit all required documentation, and confirm enrollment at their child care provider. The 15-day deadline is a firm cut off. We want to ensure that families applying for assistance have an immediate need for care and have taken the steps to secure care for their children.
Additional information will be shared as we move closer to the implementation date. We appreciate your partnership as we are working within our limited funding constraints and making intentional decisions to prioritize serving children ages 0-5, who require the highest level of supervision and highest cost of care.Thank you for your continued support of families and children across the state!
Sincerely,
Division of Early Care & Education
South Carolina Department of Social Services
1535 Confederate Ave Ext.
PO Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29201
