How to Apply for Child Care Assistance

Families applying for DES child care assistance must meet certain eligibility criteria, and submit the following to a local DES office in person, by email, or fax:

• A completed:
  
  • Application for Child Care Assistance - English
  • Application for Child Care Assistance - Spanish
• Proof of identity for the applicant
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Qualified Immigrant Status for all children needing care
• Selected DES Contracted Child Care Provider

Verification of eligible activity documents (as applicable) may also be required:

• Employment verification:
  
  • most recent paycheck stub, or
  • if newly hired, an Employment and Wage Verification Statement - English or Employment and Wage Verification Statement - Spanish) or
  • if self-employed, monthly self-employment records or previous year income tax return
• Unable or unavailable to care:
  
  • a completed Verification of Unable/Unavailable Status form
• Residing in a shelter:
  
  • a completed Verification of Shelter Case Plan
• Teen parent:
  
  • proof of school attendance

Additional verification documents (as applicable):

• Proof of unearned income, such as Social Security Income (SSI), Child Support, loans, etc.
• Proof of relationship or guardianship when the applicant is not the parent of the children needing care.
• Effective July 1, 2022, individuals who are currently receiving full-time Child Care Assistance may submit documentation to waive work requirements while participating in a full-time education or employment training program. Eligible individuals can contact their local DES Office or Child Care Eligibility Specialist for additional information.

Application for Child Care Assistance is not required for families from:

• A DES Jobs Program
• The Arizona Department of Child Safety or Tribal Child Welfare program

Looking for child care? Parents can receive free referrals and information about DES child care programs from Child Care Resource and Referral through the CCR&R website, or by calling 1-800-308-9000, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm, and 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday. Se habla Español. Referrals to all types of child care providers - licensed centers, family child care homes, and group child care homes are available. Information on quality of care, State licensing and other resources are also available.

Search for Child Care
 

In August 2024, a waiting list was put in place due to increased demand and limited funding for child care assistance. If you are getting child care assistance now, the waiting list will not affect you.  You will continue to get benefits. When it is time to renew your benefits, be sure to turn in your information on time.

How the Waiting List Works

Are any families not placed on a waiting list?

• Some families are not put on a waiting list, including:
  
  • Families who are referred for child care assistance from the Jobs program;
  • Families who are referred for child care assistance from the Cash Assistance program;
  • Families referred from the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) or Tribal Child Welfare to DES for child care assistance;
• ​These exemptions were previously established in state or federal rule. 

Who is placed on a waiting list?

DES follows Arizona state law and regulations when determining who is placed on a waiting list, as well as priority groups. The following applicants for child care assistance are placed on a waiting list:

• Low-income working families who are not TANF Cash Assistance participants.
• Teen parents (in educational activities). 
• Applicants who are unable or unavailable to care for their own children due to physical, mental, or emotional disability, participation in a drug treatment or court-ordered community service program, or shelter residency.

What are the priority groups for child care assistance when there is a waiting list?

DES follows Arizona state law and regulations for waiting list prioritization and release. Prioritization is based on the following income categories:

• Families with gross monthly incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) receive the highest priority for assistance;
• The remainder of families applying for Child Care Assistance when the waiting list is in effect are prioritized in the following order:
  
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 101% FPL and 110% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 111% FPL and 120% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 121% FPL and 130% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 131% FPL and 140% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 141% FPL and 150% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 151% FPL and 160% FPL;
  • Families with gross monthly incomes between 161% FPL and 165% FPL;
• Prioritization is also based on the application date for eligible applicants.

I submitted my child care assistance application before the waiting list started. Will I be added to the waiting list?

Applications received prior to when the waiting list started on August 1, 2024 will be reviewed and processed for eligibility. Your completed application must show that you meet the eligibility requirements for child care assistance as of July 31, 2024 (prior to the waiting list). Applicants who meet eligibility requirements as of July 31, 2024 will not be subject to the waiting list. You will receive notification from DES by mail if your application has been approved.

Can I still apply for child care assistance?

• Yes, you can still apply for assistance. When the waiting list is active, all applicants will go through the eligibility process. If you are not eligible for one of the waiting list exceptions, you will be placed on the waiting list.
• Apply by filling out an application and submitting by email or in person to your local DES Child Care office.
• You can use this survey as a screening tool to determine your potential eligibility based on household size and income.

What Families Can Expect While on the Waiting List

I was just added to the waiting list. What should I expect?

• ​If you are added to the waiting list, you will receive a notice from a child care eligibility specialist during your interview, and also receive a notice in the mail.
• When funding is available, families will be selected from the waiting list based on the eligibility information in your application and the date you were added to the waiting list. 
• The notice in the mail will tell you the priority group you are placed in, which is based on your household income and family size.
• Once a family is selected to be taken off the waiting list, they will receive a notice inviting them to apply for child care assistance within 10 days of the date on the notice.

Is there anything I must do while I’m on the waiting list?

Yes, if there are any changes to your address, income, or household members while on the waiting list, you must notify DES within five business days.

If your circumstances change, and you believe that you may qualify for one of the categories that are exempt from the waiting list, please contact your child care specialist or a local DES child care office.

Am I guaranteed child care assistance if I am placed on the waiting list?

No, you are not guaranteed to receive child care assistance if you are placed on the waiting list. You may be eligible for child care assistance when you are selected for release from the waiting list. If you report a change while on the waiting list, and you are determined ineligible for child care assistance, you will be notified and removed from the waiting list. If anything changes, and you believe you may be eligible at a later date, you may submit a new application to reapply for services.

How will I know if I have been released from the waiting list?

You will receive a notice by mail from DES that you have been released from the waiting list and are potentially eligible for child care assistance. You will need to return the information to DES by email, phone, fax, or in person at your local DES office, confirming any changes from your initial application, such as changes to your income, employment, and household members, and your DES child care provider selection. 

Waiting List Info for Families Already Approved for DES Child Care Assistance

If I am receiving child care assistance now, will I be able to keep my benefits?

Yes. The waiting list will not affect you if you are currently receiving DES child care assistance. You will receive a notice by mail when it is time to renew, and will need to provide DES with information to continue receiving your child care assistance.

I am currently receiving child care assistance and have a new child who needs care. Will I be able to receive assistance for my new child?

Yes. You must notify DES of any changes within five business days, this includes changes to your household members such as the birth of an additional child, income, or address. You can contact DES by email, phone, fax, or in person at your local DES office. The new child will be added to the existing authorization, and you will be contacted by DES to receive the approval.

If I am approved for DES child care assistance, how can I find a provider?

• Families receiving DES child care assistance must select a DES provider.
• Contact Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral for support through their website azccrr.com or by calling 1.800.308.9000 Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, and 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday. Se habla Español.
• To search online for child care providers in your area, go to azchildcareprovidersearch.azdes.gov/.
• A family approved for DES child care assistance can choose a relative as their child care provider. Non-Certified Relative Providers (NCRP) can provide child care services in their home or in the child’s home. NCRP relative providers can be related by blood, marriage, or court decree and can be: grandparents, great-grandparents, adult siblings not residing in the same household, an aunt or uncle of the eligible child. For more information, once a family is approved for child care, they would let their Child Care Specialist know they would like a relative (NCRP) instead of a provider. Someone from the DES team will then follow up with the NCRP to review information, and provide an application packet.