Child Care Assistance Program

Child Care Assistance is available for qualifying families who need help paying for child care costs.

The Child Care Assistance program helps many types of families including:

Families who receive TANF Cash Assistance and participate with work programs.
Low-income, working families.
Some families participating in qualifying education or training activities.
Teen parents completing high school or GED.
Foster families that need child care to work or attend class.

Information for Child Care Providers

Child Care and Early Education Resources

Foster Care Child Care Information

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What is Child Care Assistance?

Child Care Assistance pays for a portion of the cost of regular child care and enrollment fees. If eligible for Child Care Assistance, the family must choose a DCF-enrolled child care provider. Visit childcareinkansas.com and ks.childcareaware.org/childcaresearch/ for resources on selecting a child care provider.

If approved, the parent or guardian will receive a copy of the family plan. The family plan lists the benefit amount for each child with their provider and includes the family co-pay amount. Visit childcareinkansas.com for more information on Child Care Assistance Co-pays.

Child Care Assistance may continue as long as the family remains eligible and child care funds are available.

If you are a foster parent and need child care while you work or attend class, the Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) program may be able to help. Click here for more information about the FCCC program and an application to apply for child care assistance.

Who may be eligible for the Child Care Assistance program?

If a parent, guardian or caretaker needs child care, the program may be able to provide financial assistance. To qualify:
- Persons must apply and be able to act on their own behalf.
- The family and the child must live in Kansas.
- The child must be under age 13. Certain exceptions apply.
- Families must provide all requested information including proof of income, identity verification for all adults, and proof of citizenship and date of birth for all children for whom assistance is requested.
- If parents are absent from the home, the parent or guardian in the home must work with Child Support Services.
Answer all the questions on the application to the best of your ability. The application provides us with the information we need to determine eligibility for your household. If you need assistance completing your Child Care Assistance application, visit the Helpful Tips page or contact your local DCF Service Center at 1-888-369-4777.

If you are a foster parent and need child care while you work or attend class, the Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) program may be able to help. Click here for more information about the FCCC program and an application to apply for child care assistance.

How do I apply for Child Care Assistance?

Applying for Child Care Assistance is easy. You can complete your application online through the DCF Self-Service Portal at dcfapp.kees.ks.gov at any time.

Paper applications are available at your local DCF Service Center or they can be requested by calling toll-free 1-888-369-4777. A printable Child Care Assistance application is available on the Helpful Tips page.

Answer all the questions on the application to the best of your ability. The application provides us with the information we need to determine eligibility for your household. If you need assistance completing your Child Care Assistance application, visit the Helpful Tips page or contact your local DCF Service Center at 1-888-369-4777.

After your application has been submitted, someone will contact you if additional information is needed to process your application. If English is not your primary language, an interpreter will be provided at no cost to you. It may take 30 days before your application is processed.

If you are a foster parent and need child care while you work or attend class, the Foster Care Child Care (FCCC) program may be able to help. Click here for more information about the FCCC program and an application to apply for child care assistance.

What information do I need to give DCF to apply for Child Care Assistance?

View the ‘Applying for Benefits Desk Aid’ on the Helpful Tips page for a full list of information and verifications required for Child Care Assistance. We can help you get required verifications.

What are the income limits for Child Care Assistance?

All income and resources must be reported when you apply. Although certain types of income may be excluded, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and student loans, most is counted in determining eligibility and the amount of benefits that can be provided to the household. Child Care Assistance income limits go up as household size increases.

Maximum Monthly Income Guidelines
Family Size	Maximum Income
2	$5,439
3	$6,719
4	$7,998
5	$9,278
6	$10,558
7	$10,798
8	$11,038
9	$11,278
10	$11,518

What are the resource limits for Child Care Assistance?

Families must not have more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) of countable resources. Your worker will review what assets you have. Some resources are not counted, such as:
- The home in which the family lives.
- Furniture and personal items.

If I am eligible for Child Care Assistance, how much can I get?

Benefit amounts are based on several factors including household size and income, the type of child care provider chosen, the age of the child, and the number of child care hours that are needed.

If approved, the parent or guardian will receive a copy of the family plan. The family plan lists the benefit amount for each child with their provider and includes the family co-pay amount. Visit childcareinkansas.com for more information on Child Care Assistance Co-pays.

If I am eligible for Child Care Assistance, what changes do I have to report?

For Child Care Assistance recipients, certain changes must be reported to DCF within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household. Visit the Reporting Requirements page for information on changes that must be reported and how to report them.

How long can I qualify for Child Care Assistance?

Child Care Assistance may continue as long as the family remains eligible and child care funds are available. Periodically, the family may need to reapply to make sure they remain eligible.

How do I choose a child care provider that accepts Child Care Assistance?

While DCF determines eligibility for Child Care Assistance, a family must use a DCF-enrolled child care provider to benefit from the program. Current DCF-enrolled providers can be found at Child Care Aware of Kansas or by calling 1-877-678-2548.

Parents choose their child care provider from the following types:
- Licensed child care center
- Licensed family child care home
- Out-of-home relative provider
- In-home relative provider
Certain relatives may be eligible to become a DCF-enrolled provider. A relative provider must be at least 18 years of age and not be living with the child. Relative providers can be a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, or an aunt/uncle of the child. Cousins and great-aunts/uncles do not meet the relationship requirement for relative providers.

Licensed providers can apply to become enrolled with DCF. Licensed providers who want to enroll with DCF can visit the Child Care Providers page or the Child Care in Kansas website for more information.

Please see the Family-Provider Partnership manual for more information.

How do I pay for child care with my Child Care Assistance benefits?

Monthly Child Care Assistance benefits are issued on the first day of every month and provided on a Kansas Benefits Card, or EBT card, that looks and acts like a debit card. There are several options for making Child Care Assistance payments to your provider. Learn more about EBT cards at EBTcards.dcf.ks.gov.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive Child Care Assistance?

To qualify for Child Care Assistance, the child must be a U.S. citizen or a qualifying non-citizen.

Are there any other child care assistance programs or resources available?

The Child Care in Kansas website provides comprehensive information for parents, child care providers, employers and communities. Visit childcareinkansas.com for more information.

Additional resources can be found on our Child Care and Early Education page.

What if I have questions about Child Care Assistance that aren’t answered here?

For questions about Child Care Assistance eligibility or assistance with completing a Child Care Assistance application, visit the Helpful Tips page. You may also visit your local DCF Service Center or call 1-888-369-4777.

Outreach Materials

Family-Provider Partnership Handbook