Child Care Assistance

Visit the State of Ohio's eligibility calculator. This calculator allows you to put in details about your household, family and income and checks for eligibility.

Prepare your documents

Depending on the program you are applying for, different documents will be required for verification. Here are examples of documents you may need to provide during your application.

Proof of Identity. Examples may include:

• Social Security Number
• Other proof of U.S. Citizenship
• Permanent Resident Card (or other immigration documents)
• Driver's license
• State ID card
• Passport

Proof of Income and Resources. Examples may include:

• Pay stubs
• Tax records
• Award letters
• Bank statements
• Vehicle registration titles
• Certificate of vehicle registration

Proof of Household Expenses. Examples may include:

• Signed rental agreement
• Statement from your landlord
• Rental receipt
• Mortgage statements
• Property tax records
• Utility bills

Proof of Child Care Costs and Child Support. Examples may include:

• Original receipts
• Signed statement from your child care provider
• Invoices
• Bank statements
• Child support payment records

Proof of Medical Expenses. Examples of these documents may include:

• Proof of any health insurance
• Insurance cards
• Payroll statements
• Medical bills

Apply online. This takes about 10 minutes if you have your documents ready.

When you create your account, check the box to get text or email notifications about your application. This will alert you faster than a mailed letter about issues with your application.

See how to report changes, upload documents or renew your application.

How to Videos

Our office may take up to 30 days to process and decide on any application. The processing time will be shorter if all verifications needed to determine eligibility are included in your application. You will receive notice of our decision in the mail within 7 to 10 business days after the application is processed.

Avoid delays in your application

Important! If parts of your application are missing and we cannot determine eligibility, the county may take up to 10 calendar days, each time, to review the application and mail a follow-up letter informing you of what information still needs to be submitted to complete the application.

If your application can't be verified and you don't supply the additional documents or verifications needed, the 30 day timeline restarts.

The following links are just a few resources we recommend to help parents and caretakers find a child care provider who fits their needs.

• Action for Children: Ohio's trusted resource for all things early learning since 1972. Action for Children will help you find child care providers and also other resources for your young children.
• Ohio Department of Children & Youth: The ODCY will list child care providers in your immediate area and provide information about their licensing status, Step Up to Quality rating, and inspection results.

To maintain child care assistance, you will need to renew your application every 12 months or earlier if your income has changed.

How to renew your application

A redetermination packet must be submitted every 12 months. It is due before your current eligibility period ends.

1. You will get a packet in the mail 45 days before your current window ends.
   
   This is why it is very important that we have your correct mailing address. You can update your address by submitting a Child Care Change form (1401-C) to the county. Log in to the Benefits Portal (fastest) to report your change of address or download the 1401-C(PDF, 177KB) form and return via email, mail, fax or drop off in person.
   
   
2. A second reminder is mailed 15 days before the end date of your eligibility window. To avoid potential interruptions to your child care benefit, please submit the redetermination paperwork and all supporting verifications before your end date of eligibility.

If you need to report a change to your child care case, such as a new provider, new employment, or a new address, you must file a Child Care Change form (1401-CC) to the county.

If verification is needed for the reported change, submit the documents within 10 days of the date the change is reported and make sure to include the best way for a case manager to contact you if further information is needed.

Make sure to include your name and 10-digit case number on each document you submit

Benefits Portal (fastest)

Log in to the Benefits Portal to report the change.

• Unsure how to report a change? Watch the video on how to report a change.

Download

Download the 1044C form(PDF, 177KB) and return via email, mail, fax or drop off in person

• E-mail: franklin-cdjfs-FranklinCountyChildCare@jfs.ohio.gov
• Mail: 1721 Northland Park
• Fax: 614-223-2749

We understand that life happens. A caretaker may continue to receive publicly funded child care for up to 13 weeks after losing a qualifying activity, such as:

• losing employment
• no longer in school
• not participating in a work activity for cash assistance

This 13-week benefit is available only once every 12 months.

If approved:

1. Continued eligibility will begin the first day of the activity loss, regardless of when the change is reported;
2. Co-payments may be recalculated and shall be effective from the first day of the new corresponding eligibility period; and
3. Continued eligibility may be extended up to 13 weeks from the date that the qualifying activity ended. In some circumstances, the continued eligibility period may be less than 13 weeks.