Help Paying for Child Care
Financial help may be provided for low- and moderate-income working parents, parents attending school; families receiving assistance under the state welfare program, Work First NJ, may be entitled to free child care. In addition, adults who are raising relatives’ children in their own homes, can often qualify for child care subsidies from the state of New Jersey.
NJ Child Care Parent Meeting
If you are a parent of a child getting help paying for child carefrom the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), wewould like to hear from you! We are the NJ Division of Family Development, New Jersey’s state agency that oversees childcare policy, and we are interested in your views and experiences. Click Here
NJ Parent Child Care Survey
NJ Child Care Assistance program is interested in your feedback. This short survey till only take a couple minutes to complete. Your response and information are valuable. Please use the following link www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024NJStatePlanParents or click here for Flyer
Work First New Jersey
(WFNJ)
Community Child Care Solutions assists parents who are moving from welfare to work by providing child care subsidies to participants of Work First New Jersey. Community Child Care Solutions refers to, but does not endorse child care providers. We encourage you to visit and interview all child care providers before choosing one.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Applying for a
Child Care Subsidy
Co-payment letters as of July 2024
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Your copayment letters will be going out in via mail. Please advise that copayments are to be paid directly to the provider as of August 1, 2024. If you have any additional questions, feel to reach out to your case worker at 732-324-4357 ext. 0 for Middlesex County and 908-927-0869 ext. 0 for Somerset County.
As an applicant / parent seeking a child care subsidy, you will be required to provide proof of income, school/training hours and household size to help determine eligibility.
All required documents must be submitted to be considered for a subsidy.
Please fill out the applicable form below.
CCAP Application - Middlesex - English
CCAP Application - Middlesex - Spanish
CCAP Application - Somerset - English
CCAP Application - Somerset - Spanish
Parent/Applicant Eligibility
• Must be a County resident
• Work part time AND go to school/training part time
• Must be working full-time (30 hours weekly or more), attending school full-time (12 credits or more), or in job training (20 hours weekly or more)
• Must meet income eligibility guidelines
Child/Children Eligibility
• Children up to age 13, or less than age of 19 incapable of self care
• The child or children must be legally present in the US and have a valid Social Security number
• A child under the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency's protective supervision is also eligible
Child Care Provider Eligibility
• Providers must either be a licensed child care center or a registered family child care home
• A home or summer camp that is approved by the state is also eligible
• All providers must complete health and safety trainings and criminal history background checks
Income Guideline
Maximum Allowable Annual Family Gross Income
(Represents 200% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Index)
Family Size
2
3
4
5
6
Annual Income
$40,880
$51,640
$62,400
$73,160
$83,920
Click here for NJ Calculator to determine eligibility
NJ State Co-payment schedule as of July 2024
Work First New Jersey
Community Child Care Solutions assists parents who are moving from welfare to work by providing child care subsidies to participants of Work First New Jersey. Community Child Care Solutions refers to, but does not endorse child care providers. We encourage you to visit and interview all child care providers before choosing one.
Eligibility
Eligibility is established by the County Board of Social Services or the Department of Labor. Activities are assigned by either a Career Development Counselor or Income Maintenance Worker. An activity referral is then sent to Community Child Care Solutions; upon receipt we will contact you through mail and or phone to find out what are your child care needs. Once a participant’s case is closed upon gaining employment, they will be eligible to receive subsidized child care for up to two years.
Kinship Navigator Program
Kinship caregivers, adults who are raising relatives’ children in their own homes, can often qualify for child care subsidies from the state of New Jersey.
To qualify for child care subsidies, kinship caregivers must prove they are relatives or legal guardians of the children and that the children live with them. Those under age 60 who are not working or preparing for work must prove they are disabled. Financial eligibility depends on the kinship caregiver’s age and the size and income of the family unit. Caregivers must present proof of age and income.
Click here for more information on the Kinship Navigator Program.
To learn more about child care resources:
in Middlesex County call 732-324-4357
in Somerset County call 908-927-0869
Outside of the county you may contact the Kinship Navigator at 1-877-816-3211
or the state child care help line at 1-800-332-9227.
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What kind of child care can I use and receive help in paying for my child's care?You can use a Licensed Child Care Center, State-Registered Family Child Care (FCC) home provider or a Family, Friend & Neighbor (FNN). The selection is always parental choice.
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What is the process if I select a Family, Friend & Neighbor (FNN) provider?You should inform the Subsidy Case Worker assigned to your case that you would like to use a FFN provider. You must also be prepared to have the potential provider’s full legal name, address of where he/she will be watching your child, provider’s phone number and social security number available when you call. This potential provider will then receive a phone call and will be mailed a packet that must be completed and returned immediately. New requirements must be met by your potential provider before payment can be approved. IMPORTANT: Due to new state mandated requirements the timeframe to complete all the requirements can take approximately five through eight weeks. We will not back pay, parents / applicants will have to pay out of pocket until the prospective provider has completed all the requirements and has been approved.
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How often should a provider expect to be paid?Once the contract is received, the provider can expect to receive payment on a bi-weekly basis which will be direct deposited into their bank account.
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I submitted an application for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP); how long will it take to process my application?We review documentation provided by you within 10 business days. However please be advised a response will be sent to you via mail and allow an additional 3 to 5 business days for mailing.
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Do you help pay registration fee?Only those clients on the Work First New Jersey Program (WFNJ) are eligible for assistance with registration fee. Up to $50 registration fee can be paid per provider; one time only.
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Do you help pay transportation fee?Only those clients on the Work First New Jersey Program (WFNJ) are eligible for assistance with transportation. Up to $2 per day can be paid.
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How much assistance will I receive and what is my portion (co-pay)?The amount covered is dependent on your family size, income and whether you need full-time or part-time care. The exact amounts will not be known until all of the listed information has been approved and entered in the state subsidy systems.
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Do you help pay occasional care if my current provider is closed due to school closing?Only those clients on the Work First New Jersey Program (WFNJ) are eligible for assistance with occasional care due to your child’s current provider closing due to school closing or holiday.
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Can my subsidy payment be stopped or terminated?Yes. Below are some reasons you may no longer receive help in paying for child care (based on the subsidy program you are approved for). Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Your activity has ended or you stop attending You have not submitted employment documents to your case worker You have not paid your portion of child care cost (co-pay) You failed to return the annual redetermination application and eligibility documents You are no longer eligible Child Care Assistance PRogram (CCAP): You move out of New Jersey Your income increases over the 85 % of the SMI income scale You stop working or attending school for more than three months You have not paid your portion of child care cost (co-pay) You failed to return the annual redetermination application and eligibility documents You are no longer eligible For a complete list you can read your Parent Handbook or speak to a Subsidy Case Manager.