Need help paying for child care or before/after school programs? You may be eligible for Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) to help cover the cost.
- This page, Apply for funds to help pay for child care, is offered by
- Department of Early Education and Care
Apply for funds to help pay for child care
The Details
Overview
The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) helps Massachusetts families pay for child care and out-of-school time programs through federal and state programs. Out-of-school time programs include programs available before and after school. EEC partners with family access administrators to help families apply for and receive CCFA. These family access administrators include Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&R), contracted child care programs and Mass 211. They also provide resource and referral services for families exploring child care options.
These programs pay your child’s child care and/or out-of-school time programs directly each month. You may have a “parent fee” depending on your family size and income. Many families have no fee.
Language Help: EEC’s family portal, MyChildCareMA is available in multiple languages for families to complete their application. Mass 211 has access to interpreters in over 100 languages to help you over the phone. If you are working with a CCR&R or contracted child care program, you can also request translation services.
Eligibility
CCFA eligibility is based on who is in your family, income, and certain expenses. “Eligibility” means who can and can’t get the benefit. If you aren’t sure if you are eligible, family access administrators can help you find out.
Getting CCFA will not hurt your immigration status. Applying for or receiving child care financial assistance will not put you at risk of being considered a public charge. All information given to EEC is confidential and is not shared with immigration officials.
Child care financial assistance is considered a benefit for children, not adults. Even if you, as a parent or caregiver, are not a U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant, it is safe for you to apply for and receive child care financial assistance for an eligible child. Parents do not have to provide proof of citizenship status for themselves as part of the application process.
Service Need
EEC provides financial assistance if a parent has a recognized reason for needing child care. We call this “service need.” You may be eligible if parents or caregivers in your household:
- Are working (including part time, gig or per diem work, or self employment) ;
- Are participating in an education, training or job search program;
- Are experiencing homelessness;
- Are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence;
- Are retired and older than 65;
- Actively deployed to the military
- Have a documented disability; OR
- Are participating in a substance abuse treatment or rehabilitation program.
Please note: If you do not have one of these reasons for needing child care, you may be able to get temporary approval for 12 weeks to seek an approved activity. Talk to your family access administrator to see if you may be eligible for this.
Some families may qualify for benefits right away:
- Getting TAFDC/SNAP? If you receive TAFDC cash benefits or SNAP benefits, talk to DTA about receiving a child care referral. If you get TAFDC, you need to also be seeking employment, working or enrolled in a training or education program. You may also qualify if your TAFDC case closed in the last 24 months. If you get SNAP, you need to also be participating in a SNAP Path to Work program. If approved by DTA, DTA will send the referral to the Family Access Administrator for you. Families with DTA referrals do not have to be on the waitlist for financial assistance.
- Have an open case with DCF? If your child has an active case with DCF, talk to your social worker about receiving a child care referral. You may also qualify if your DCF case closed in the last 24 months. If approved by DCF, DCF will send the referral to the Family Access Administrator for you. Families with DCF referrals do not have to be on the waitlist for financial assistance.
Income
What counts as income? EEC counts parent(s)’s or caregiver income from most sources, such as wages. EEC does not count rental assistance, SSI/SSDI, child support, TAFDC cash benefits, and certain other sources of income. Your Family Access Administrator will tell you what information they need from you. *Note: depending on your “service need,” your family may not have to meet the income amounts below (example: if you have a DTA or DCF referral).
Child Care Financial Assistance Eligibility Chart
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Income (before taxes) is 85% of State Median Income |
|---|---|
| 2 | $7,994 |
| 3 | $9,874 |
| 4 | $11,755 |
| 5 | $13,636 |
| 6 | $15,517 |
| 7 | $ 15,869 *Families at 50% of SMI receive a priority status. |
If you aren’t sure if you are eligible, Family Access Administrators can help you find out. You can also check the current SMI chart.
How to apply
You can apply online at MyChildCareMA.
Call Mass 211 or your local CCR&R.
For Mass 211: dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-6277 and use extension 23
Visit your local CCR&R
Next steps
-
Complete your waitlist application
You can apply online with MyChildCareMA. The application will ask you questions about your household to see if you likely qualify for child care benefits. Your family may get priority access to CCFA if you:
- earn 50% or less of the State Median Income (SMI)
- work in the early education and care field
- have a child with a documented disability
- are experiencing homelessness
- are a parent younger than 24 years old; or
- need assistance due to domestic violence
Verify your eligibility for the waitlist
After you apply, we’ll call you to discuss your information and what documents you need to provide. An interpreter will be provided if you need one. Families must provide proof of parent identity, Massachusetts residency and all gross household income.
The MyChildCareMA family portal is where you will see notices about your application and benefits. We will send you an email and/or text when there is new information about your case.
Wait for funding
We will make a decision on if you are likely eligible, and if funding is not available, you will join the statewide waitlist. You will get a Waitlist Approval Notice with the date you applied. If you are not eligible, you will receive a Waitlist Denial notice.
Verify your eligibility for benefits
When funding is available, we will provide families with a Child Care Benefit Offer. We will review your information and may request more documents to complete your application. Here is a list of documents you may need to provide.
Get child care benefits
You will get a notice from the family access administrator telling you if you qualify. If your application is approved, they will tell you how much you have to pay for child care, known as the parent fee. Learn about the parent fee. You will need to sign a Financial Assistance and Fee Agreement. Child care benefits are approved for 12 months.
If they deny your application, they will tell you why. You can ask EEC to review the decision. Your letter tells you how you can file a review.
Find a child care provider
Enroll in child care that meets your family’s needs. You can use EEC’s search tool, call Mass 211 or work with your local CCRR to find a child care provider. Some families may be offered a seat at a specific program in their area.
Contact
Address
50 Milk St., 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-5002Phone
Online
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