Working Connections Child Care

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps eligible families pay for child care. When a family qualifies for child care subsidy benefits and chooses an eligible provider, the state pays a portion of the cost of child care. Parents may be responsible for a copayment to their provider each month.

• Copay Calculation Table - Effective beginning April 1, 2024
• Child Care Subsidy Regional Map for Licensed Family Homes and Centers

Families experiencing homelessness may be approved for up to 12 months to help resolve issues surrounding homelessness.

Basic Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Subsidy Benefits

• The child must reside in Washington
• The family with whom the child resides must live in Washington state
• The family's income must be at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI) at application or 65% of SMI when reapplying
• The family must have resources under $1 million
• Child Care Subsidy helps pay for child care while the parent, or parents in a two-parent household, participate in an approved activity.  Approved activities include:
  • Employment or self-employed in legal, income-generating, taxable activities
  • Education activities include:
    • High school or high school equivalency programs for parents ages 21 and younger
    • Attending community, technical, or tribal college full-time and seeking an associate or vocational degree
    • Attending community, technical, or tribal colleges part-time and seeking an associate or vocational degree AND working 20 hours per week
    • Activities approved under the parents WorkFirst or BFET plan

Income Eligibility

The maximum household income increases from 200% of the U.S. federal poverty level (FPL) to 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). The maximum monthly income limit by household size is listed below:

Here's the HTML table representation:

Use the chart above to determine if your family may be eligible for WCCC and to determine your approximate copayment. (Example: If your household consists of yourself, your spouse, and two children, your household size is four. If your income is $4,100, your copayment would be $90 per month.) 

Application Process

The parent must complete the WCCC application and verification process.

• Families can apply by contacting the Child Care Subsidy Contact Center at 1-844-626-8687 or online at www.WashingtonConnection.org.
• DCYF gathers and reviews information to determine a family's eligibility.
• Families will need to provide DCYF with the name and phone number of the child care provider. You do not have to have a provider before applying for child care subsidy.

View the instructions on creating an online account with Washington Connection.

Child Care Subsidy Program - You May Qualify

Read the printable flyer (available in English, Spanish, and Somali)

Verification Process

DCYF will need to verify the following information, as applicable. Some verification may be obtained using existing DCYF or state systems, or DCYF may request verification from families. All statements must contain a name, address, phone number, date, and signature.

Finding Child Care

There are different provider options parents may choose to fit the needs of their family. Parents may choose from:

• Licensed or certified child care centers
• Licensed or certified family child care homes
• Eligible licensed exempt providers, typically referred to as family, friend, or neighbor (FFN) child care

Licensed child care providers follow minimum licensing requirements set by Washington State to ensure children are in safe, healthy, and nurturing places.

Learn more about licensed child care

If you are not sure where to find licensed child care providers, your local Child Care Aware Washington agency can help. Call 1-800-446-1114 for help.

You have a choice in finding quality early care and learning settings in Washington State.

• You Have a Choice! A Guide to Finding Quality Child Care
• For more information, go to the Find Child Care / Early Learning page
• Child Care Check is a search tool for you to get information about individual child care providers and early learning programs in Washington

Some families prefer to have a family, friend, or neighbor care for their child or provide care in the child's home. When you choose a child care provider who is exempt from licensing, you have extra responsibilities.

The provider you must be:

• 18 years of age or older
• A citizen or a legal resident of the United States
• Pass the DCYF background check. If care is provided in the provider's home, then anyone older than 16 who lives in the home must also pass a background check
• Physically and mentally healthy enough to meet all the needs of the child in care
• Someone other than the child's biological parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, in-loco parentis, or spouse of any of these individuals
• Meet the health and safety requirements in WAC 110-16-0025, 110-16-0030, and 110-16-0035 if not related to the child

For more information go to the Family, Friends and Neighbor provider page

Note: In-home providers who are relatives and are paid child care subsidies to care for children receiving WCCC benefits, may not receive those benefits for their children during the hours in which they provide subsidized child care.

Additional Support

Parents of children with special needs may qualify for higher rates to help pay for additional supports needed. Further information is provided below.

• Special needs eligibility, application and rate information
• Special Needs Child Care Rate Request

Questions?

Families or parents with questions about their copayment may call the DCYF Child Care Contact Center at 1-844-626-8687.

Child care providers with questions about a family's copay may contact the DCYF Provider Help Line by emailing providerhelp@dcyf.wa.gov or calling 1-800-394-4571.