Updates to the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will benefit more families

More children in Illinois now have access to quality child care programs such as the YMCA’s child care and education programs thanks to recent policy updates to the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). CCAP is a child care subsidy program that offers financial assistance to income-eligible families with children under the age of 13. The subsidies help parents pay for child care while they work, get job training, or continue their education.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), which administers the program, has increased the household income eligibility threshold to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) so that more families can benefit from the assistance. The program will have an exit ramp at 225 percent of FPL at the time of redetermination. That means, effective October 1, 2019 a family of three with a monthly household income of $3,289 or less will qualify for assistance.

Additionally, the recent revisions decreased family co-payments by 2.39 percent, making it more affordable for families. Now, parent co-pays will not exceed 9 percent of a family’s gross income. For example, a family of 3 earning between $3,023 and $3,200 a month will now see their co-pay drop to $208.

Other policy changes to CCAP were also made to support the development of highly qualified child care and early education professionals in Illinois.

For more information about CCAP, including income eligibility limits and how to apply, see here.