Idaho ICCP Child Care Assistance for Grandparents and Relative Caregivers

What ICCP Is and Who It Helps

The Idaho Child Care Program — ICCP — helps low-income families cover child care costs through a sliding-scale copayment system. The state pays the provider directly; you pay a reduced copay based on your income and household size.

For grandparents and other relatives raising a child, ICCP can be the difference between being able to work and having no child care at all. But there is a catch that trips up many kinship caregivers: ICCP has a work requirement, and there is no retirement-specific exemption.

The Work Requirement

To receive ICCP subsidies, the caregiver must be engaged in a qualifying activity:

• Working
• Attending school
• Participating in job training
• Participating in TAFI employment services

If you are a retired grandparent not working and not in school, ICCP is not available to you unless you meet one of those conditions. This is one of the program's hard edges for kinship caregivers, and it is worth knowing upfront before you invest time in an application.

The child must be under 13. Until the month of their 19th birthday, an older child may qualify if they are physically or mentally incapable of self-care, as verified by a licensed professional, or if a court, probation, child-protection, or mental-health plan requires constant supervision.

Income Limits

ICCP uses a sliding scale based on household gross income and family size. The lower your income relative to the threshold, the lower your copay. Exact copay amounts depend on your specific circumstances — IDHW calculates them during the application process.

Unlike TAFI, ICCP counts the caregiver's income. Your Social Security, wages, and any other household income are all part of the calculation.

How to Apply

Apply through idalink.idaho.gov — the same portal used for TAFI, SNAP, and Medicaid. One application covers all four programs. You can also call 1-877-456-1233 or visit an IDHW field office.

You will need to provide:

• Proof of the qualifying activity (pay stubs, school enrollment, TAFI participation letter)
• Income verification for the household
• Child care provider information (the provider must be registered as an ICCP provider)
• Proof of the child's age and your relationship

Choosing a Provider

ICCP payments go directly to child care providers registered for ICCP. You can use IdahoSTARS resources to find participating providers. Center-based care and family child care homes can participate if the provider is registered for the program.

When ICCP Does Not Fit

If you are retired and not working, ICCP will not cover your child care needs. In that situation, other options include:

• Title III-E caregiver support: older relatives age 55 or older who live with and are the primary caregiver for a child under 18 may access respite and other support through local Area Agencies on Aging — no ICCP work activity is required for this program
• Head Start and Early Head Start: free preschool programs for children in low-income households
• Community action agencies: some offer emergency child care support

For a complete map of Idaho's financial assistance programs for relative caregivers — including where ICCP fits alongside TAFI, SNAP, and Medicaid — the Idaho Kinship Financial Help Guide lays out the full picture.

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