Child Care Assistance Program

How to apply 

Fill out an online application at MNbenefits.mn.gov. Contact your county human services office or local contracted agency for more information about applying for child care assistance.

To check the status of your application or case, contact your county human services office or local contracted agency.

Waiting lists

Some agencies have a child care waiting list for families who haven’t received Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits recently. If your agency has a waiting list, contact that agency to be added to the list.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for child care assistance, you must: 

• Submit an application and all required documents
• Be working, going to school, searching for a job or doing activities in an employment plan
• Have children needing care who are 12 or younger, or 13 or 14 years old with special needs
• Have children who meet citizenship and immigration requirements
• Cooperate with child support enforcement for all children in your family with an absent parent
• Meet the program’s income limits
• Have assets equal to or less than $1 million

Families experiencing homelessness have three months after they apply to submit documents and be in an activity such as work, school or employment plan activities.

Income limit 

If your annual income is below these amounts based on your household size, you may be eligible for child care assistance.

Most families have to pay a portion of the child care cost, called a copayment. See CCAP Copayment Schedules DHS-6413O (PDF) to review copayments, income entrance and exit levels.

Note: Income guidelines are updated each year. These guidelines will change on October 10, 2027. 

Finding child care

Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life. Parent Aware is available in multiple languages. 

Family, Friend and Neighbor care providers who meet certain requirements may register with the Child Care Assistance Program. These legal nonlicensed providers must be monitored annually for compliance with health and safety requirements if they serve unrelated children.

Child Care Provider Registration

The Child Care Assistance Program pays child care providers to care for children from families with low incomes so parents can work or go to school, and children have more opportunities to thrive as learners. Learn more about how child care assistance works for child care providers. 

More child care resources for families