DC Child Care Subsidy for Grandparents: OSSE Voucher Program

The OSSE Childcare Subsidy and Kinship Families

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) runs DC's Child Care Subsidy Program, which helps low- and moderate-income families pay for licensed childcare and out-of-school-time care. Some eligibility categories waive specific requirements, including children under protective services and children of elder caregivers.

The standard income limit is 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. For children under court or CFSA protective supervision, in foster care, or with a parent under age 21 in CFSA custody, income, qualifying activity, and co-payment requirements are waived. A kinship placement without protective-services status does not by itself qualify for those waivers. Children of elder caregivers also have qualifying activity and co-payment requirements waived when the caregiver is a legal guardian, stands in loco parentis, or is responsible for day-to-day care and supervision and is age 62 or older or receives Social Security disability benefits or SSI; the income requirement is not waived for this category.

Priority Groups Matter Now More Than Ever

In May 2026, OSSE implemented a waitlist for new applicants due to budget constraints. As of October 1, 2026, enrollment is restricted to Priority Groups 1 through 4. Groups 5 and 6 are placed on the waitlist and are not currently accepting new enrollments.

The priority groups that remain open include TANF recipients, children under protective services, children with elder caregivers, and children with documented disabilities. If you are a kinship caregiver receiving child-only TANF or the child is under court or CFSA supervision, the child falls into a priority category that can still enroll. The elder-caregiver category applies when the caregiver is age 62 or older or receives Social Security disability benefits or SSI.

Knowing your priority group before you apply can mean the difference between immediate enrollment and an indefinite wait.

In-Home Caregiver Option

Since October 2024, license-exempt in-home caregivers can provide subsidized care in the child's home for up to five children, including no more than two of their own and no more than two under age 2. This is significant for kinship households where the caregiver is also the childcare provider — a grandparent caring for multiple grandchildren at home, for example, may be able to receive the subsidy for that care.

Co-Payments

Families below 150% FPL pay $0 in co-payments. OSSE's sliding fee scale applies above that threshold. Initial eligibility is set at 300% FPL, and at redetermination the eligibility threshold extends to 85% of the State Median Income — so a family that qualifies initially can stay in the program even if income rises modestly.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted online, in person at DHS, or through an authorized Level II childcare provider. You will need proof of DC residency, the child's identity documents, income verification, and documentation of your caregiving arrangement.

If the child is under court or CFSA protective supervision, in foster care, or has a parent under age 21 in CFSA custody, include documentation of that status with the application; this supports the protective-services classification, which waives income, qualifying activity, and co-payment requirements. If you qualify as an elder caregiver, include documentation of that status; that classification waives qualifying activity and co-payment requirements, but not income.

Stacking Childcare With Other Benefits

The OSSE childcare subsidy stacks with child-only TANF, GCP/CRCP subsidies, SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC. In fact, receiving TANF may help establish your priority group for childcare enrollment during the current waitlist period.

For the full breakdown of all DC childcare options alongside cash, food, and health benefits — including application checklists and priority group documentation — see the DC Kinship Financial Help Guide.

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