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How to Apply for Child Care Assistance

happy children's faces; a baby sits, playing with colorful wooden blocks; a child care taker watches over three children, one boy is building a colorful tower using colorful plastic blocks

Announcement

Funding for this program is limited, and a waiting list is in place for most families. Eligible families that do not receive Cash Assistance or have not been referred by the Department of Child Safety will be added to a waiting list until funding is available. As of May 29, 2026, there are 7,617 families and 12,750 children on the waiting list. This data will be updated every Friday.

The Child Care Assistance Program helps families pay for quality child care for children under the age of 13 years old so that parents and legal guardians can work, go to school, or participate in other eligible activities. Assistance is also available for children experiencing homelessness and referred by the Arizona Department of Child Safety or a Tribal child welfare program.

If your family is approved for Child Care Assistance, we’ll send your benefits directly to your child care provider. The amount of your benefit is based on how many hours your child is in care and your provider’s rate and may not cover all of your child care costs. You can ask your child care provider how much you can expect to pay.

You can apply for or renew your benefits online through the A-to-Z Arizona portal. Paper applications can be submitted by email at [email protected], fax, or in person at your local DES office.

Please note: Child Care Assistance and waiting list determination are the same for online and PDF (paper) applications. To prevent any disruption of your application, please only submit one application through A-to-Z or your local DES office. If you are using the PDF (paper) application, you must submit to a local DES office by email at [email protected], mail, fax, or in person.

Child Care Assistance Application - Online A-to-Z

The A-to-Z Arizona portal is a new way to apply for and renew Child Care Assistance and learn more about DES programs.

Access A-to-Z Arizona Portal

Initial Paper Application for Child Care Assistance - English / Application for Child Care Assistance - Spanish

Redetermination Paper Application for Child Care Assistance - English / Redetermination Paper Application for Child Care Assistance - Spanish

 A to Z Arizona Child Care Assistance Video Transcript

Eligibility

DES child care assistance can help families pay for care in child care center-based or home settings that are contracted with DES to provide high quality child care. Families are required to cost-share (co-pay) based on family size and income.

Child care assistance is available for families with an income at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) with children Birth through age 12 who are:

  • Living in Arizona
  • Participating in an eligible activity
  • Teen parents enrolled in high school, GED, ESOL, or remedial education programs
  • Currently residing in a homeless or domestic violence shelters
  • Individuals who are unable to care for their children due to a physical, mental or emotional condition
  • Individuals who are unavailable to care for their children due to participation in court-ordered community service or participation in a drug treatment program
  • Individuals who are currently receiving full-time DES child care assistance who enroll in a full-time education or employment training program, and submit a work requirement waiver to DES, including proof of enrollment.

DES also provides child care assistance to individuals receiving Cash Assistance (CA) who are employed or enrolled in the Grant Diversion program, as well as grandparents and guardians when the parent of the child is not living in the same home and when the grandparent or guardian is engaged in an eligible activity.

DES does not consider income when determining eligibility for an individual who is referred from the TANF Jobs Program, Department of Child Safety (DCS), or a Tribal child welfare program.

How to Apply for Child Care Assistance

Families applying for DES child care assistance must meet certain eligibility criteria, and can apply for Child Care Assistance online and renew benefits through the A-to-Z portal. Paper applications must be submitted by email at [email protected], fax, mail, or in person to your local DES office. You can save time and apply online using A-to-Z Arizona.

DES uses all resources available to verify information required to determine eligibility for child care assistance. You can help your application be processed faster by providing the following verifications with your application:

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

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 call 1-833-947-6396 to speak with a child care specialist for additional information.

An application for Child Care Assistance is not required for families who are referred from:

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

After The Application

DES now has a child care waiting list for most families applying to the program. Learn more in the Waiting List Resources section of the main child care page.

Applications for child care can take up to 30 days to process and complete. Applicants are encouraged to not disregard correspondence from DES, as this may delay services.

Once your application is received, an eligibility specialist conducts an interview and determines if additional information is needed.

  • The Eligibility Specialist will let you know if additional information is needed.
    • Please do not disregard correspondence from DES, as this may delay services.
  • Your assigned Eligibility Specialist will:
    • Review your application
    • Let you know if additional information or verification is needed
    • Determine whether you qualify for child care assistance and what your copay would be
  • Be available to discuss any other relevant information
  • Individuals who do not agree with the determination of their application, may submit a Fair Hearing Request to their assigned eligibility specialist by email at [email protected], fax, mail, or in person. After the request is received, the DES Fair Hearing Unit will complete the review process.

For more information, call 1-833-947-6396 to speak with a Child Care Eligibility Specialist.

Documents Center for Families Search for reports, forms, policies, pamphlets, and posters with information about child care programs and services.

Find Child Care

You are responsible for selecting a DES approved child care provider for your children. You can select a licensed child care center, a licensed family child care home, or a relative caretaker. You will have to decide the type of care that is best for your children and meets your family's needs.

Before you take your child to your chosen provider, you need to contact DES to authorize care. We will need the name, address and phone number of the provider to verify that they are approved by DES. Failure to notify DES may require you to pay the provider directly for any child care costs incurred. You can find information on how your provider can contract with DES through the Become a Child Care Provider webpage.

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, 7:00am to 6:00pm. Spanish speakers are available. 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

Reporting Changes and Redetermination

Notifying DES of changes

While in the DES child care assistance program, you must notify your Eligibility Specialist of any change in your eligibility activity within five days of the change. This applies to families currently receiving child care assistance and families who are on the waiting list. Reporting changes can be completed online through the A-to-Z portal. Changes can also be sent by email to [email protected], fax or in person to your local DES office. Report changes when: you move and have a new address, anyone moves in or out of your household, you or an adult in your household experiences a loss of employment, or your income is greater than the maximum allowed amount of 85% of the State Median Income. If your children need a child care schedule or provider change, you must also report this immediately.

Completing your redetermination

Every 12 months, you will be notified that it is time to submit documentation for redetermination of eligibility. You can save time and submit your redetermination online through the A-to-Z portal or by or by completing the PDF (paper) redetermination form and submitting by email to [email protected], by fax, mail or in person to your local DES office. DES uses this information to determine if you still meet the eligibility requirements of the program. You must turn in the form along with supporting verification, such as your most recent paycheck stub and your work or school schedule, in the time specified or your child care benefits will end.

Additional Information and Resources for Families

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