Child Care Assistance
- The Basics
- The Details
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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The Basics
Minnesota child care assistance programs help low income families pay for child care while parents work, look for work, or go to school.
There are different types of child care assistance programs for families in different circumstances. This section will examine three of those programs.
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.
Child Care Assistance
- The Basics
- The Details
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
Try It
The Details
There are three main public child care assistance programs in Minnesota. Each of them has different rules for who can be in the program:
- MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance is for parents who receive Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits or Diversionary Work Program (DWP) benefits.
- Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance is for parents who are working, looking for work, or going to school.
- Transition Year Child Care Assistance is for parents who have recently gone off MFIP or DWP benefits.
Age Limits
If they qualify, parents can access child care assistance for children up to age 12. The age limit is 14 for children with special needs.
MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance
The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and the Diversionary Work Program (DWP) provide employment services and cash assistance to parents with low incomes.
To be eligible for the MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance program, you must be on MFIP or DWP and:
- Have a MFIP or DWP Employment Plan; or
- Be looking for a job; or
- Be signed up for an MFIP or DWP orientation; or
- Be doing something else that’s part of a MFIP or DWP Employment Plan; or
- Have a 20-hour-a-week job.
To learn more about MFIP program rules, read DB101's MFIP article.
Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance
Each Minnesota county sets its own rules and income limits for Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance. Because there a limited number of BSF spots available in each county, certain families who qualify for the program get top priority:
- Families who used to be on MFIP
- Families who are getting job training and don’t have any family members with a high school diploma
- Families in which one parent is a veteran, and
- Families who were on BSF in another county.
BSF Copayments
You have to pay a fee to take part in the BSF program. This fee is called a copayment. Your copayment amount depends upon:
- Which county you live in;
- How much income you have; and
- How big your family is.
For example, a four-person family living in Hennepin County with $30,000 in yearly income pays about $4 per month to be part of BSF.
Transition Year Child Care
Transition Year Child Care Assistance is for families who are no longer receiving MFIP or DWP benefits, and are on a waiting list for BSF Child Care Assistance in their county.
Application
To apply for any of these child care assistance programs, contact your county or tribal human services office.
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.
Child Care Assistance
Try It
Example
Tom and Shayna's Story
Tom and his wife Shayna had been getting help from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) for two years. While they were looking for work, they got child care through the MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance program.
Luckily, both Tom and Shayna were eventually able to find jobs. The jobs paid enough money so that the family no longer needed MFIP. They were excited to be employed and supporting themselves, but they worried about the cost of child care. They contacted their local county or tribal human services office to apply for Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care. This program allows families to pay a small amount of money each month to get child care services. The amount of money each family pays depends on their income. Tom’s family of four had $30,000 worth of income, which meant they would pay about $4 a month for child care for the two kids.
When they applied, their county had a waiting list for BSF Child Care, so they signed up for Transitional Year Child Care Assistance Program. This program is for families like Tom’s who are just coming off of MFIP, but can’t get BSF because of a waiting list. Through these programs, Tom and Shayna were able to work without worrying about how their kids would be taken care of during the day.
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.
Child Care Assistance
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Minnesota’s child care assistance programs?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
Child care assistance programs help families pay for child care while parents work, look for work, or go to school.
Who can get child care assistance?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
There are three main groups who can get child care assistance:
- Families on the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Diversionary Work Program (DWP)
- Families recently off of MFIP or DWP
- Other families whose parents are working, looking for work, or going to school.
How old can my children be?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
Child care assistance is for children under age 12. This age limit is 14 for children with special needs.
Who can get MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
The Minnesota Family Investment Program, or MFIP, is the state’s welfare reform program for low-income families with children. MFIP helps families move to work and focuses on helping families. It includes both cash and food assistance. When most families first apply for cash assistance, they will participate in the Diversionary Work Program, or DWP. This is a four month program that helps parents go immediately to work rather than receive welfare.
Some families may be referred to MFIP when they first apply for assistance or after they finish four months of DWP. MFIP helps families transition to economic stability. Parents are expected to work, and are supported in working. Most families can get cash assistance for only 60 months.
Is the Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance Program free?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
To be part of the Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance Program, you pay a small amount, which is called a copayment.
Who can get Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
Each county has its own income limits for the BSF program. Families who meet those income limits may qualify for the BSF program.
Does everyone who applies for Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Child Care Assistance get on the program?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
It depends. Counties have a limited number of spots, so your county might have a waiting list. Certain families get priority:
- Families who used to be on the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP);
- Families without a high school diploma who are getting job training;
- Families in which at least one parent is a veteran; and
- Families switching from another county’s BSF program.
I was on MFIP / DWP Child Care Assistance and now I’m on a BSF waiting list. Is there any way for me to get help paying for child care?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
Yes. This is exactly the situation that Transition Year Child Care helps with.
How do I apply for child care assistance?![Open](/master_images/3/open.svg)
![Close](/master_images/3/close.svg)
Contact your county or tribal human services office to apply.
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.
Child Care Assistance
Try It
Frequent Pitfalls
Not asking about child care assistance programs when you apply for other programs
If you apply for SNAP or cash assistance programs like General Assistance (GA), MFIP, or Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), be sure to ask your county or tribal human services office about how to apply for child care assistance.
Misinformation
It can be difficult to find accurate and complete information about public benefits programs. Some social workers and advocates may have limited knowledge of available options. They may also be unaware of how changes in income or employment can affect eligibility for such programs.
To be sure the information you receive is accurate and complete, Chat with a Hub expert or contact your county or tribal human services office.
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.
Child Care Assistance
- The Basics
- The Details
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
Try It
Next Steps
Learn More
To learn more about child care assistance:
- Visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website for general information on Minnesota benefit programs, including child care assistance.
- See the Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual for more detailed information on program rules.
- If you can't find what you're looking for or have questions, Chat with a Hub expert.
Apply for Child Care Assistance
To apply for child care assistance, contact your county or tribal human services office.
Learn About Work and Benefits - Chat with a Hub expert!
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- Understand your current benefits
- Get help using DB101.org
- Connect to resources
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Free Legal Help
The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) provides free assistance to people with civil legal issues related to their disability. Call the MDLC Intake Line at 1-612-334-5970 (Twin Cities metro area), 1-800-292-4150 (Greater Minnesota), or 1-612-332-4668 (TTY).
Find Local Services
You can use MinnesotaHelp.info to find social services near you, from benefits applications to job counseling. |
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Try these searches:
Learn more
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Medical Assistance (MA): Overview
MA is public health coverage. There are different ways to qualify.
Energy Assistance
The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income people pay for heating.