Illinois CCAP for Grandparents: Child Care Assistance When Raising a Grandchild

Who Qualifies for CCAP as a Grandparent Caregiver in Illinois

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families in Illinois pay for child care. But unlike TANF child-only grants, CCAP isn't automatic for kinship caregivers — it's tied to work or education activity.

To qualify, you must be employed a minimum number of hours, attending an accredited training or degree program, or meet specific medical-need criteria. Retired grandparents who aren't working or in school generally don't qualify unless the child has documented special medical needs.

How CCAP Works for Relative Caregivers

CCAP is administered by IDHS in partnership with regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. Once approved, you choose your child care provider from three categories:

• Licensed child care centers — daycare facilities and preschool programs
• Licensed home providers — certified home-based care
• License-exempt relative providers — a qualified relative who doesn't live in your household

That last option matters for kinship families. If a cousin, aunt, or other relative is willing to provide care, they can get paid through CCAP — as long as they don't live with you and the child.

TANF Does Not Replace CCAP Activity Requirements

Receiving a TANF child-only grant as a representative payee does not automatically satisfy CCAP's work or education activity requirements. You still need to demonstrate qualifying activity — employment, education, or training — unless documented special medical needs apply to the child or caregiver.

Income Limits

CCAP uses a sliding scale based on household size and income. Exact thresholds change annually, but the program is designed for low-to-moderate-income families. A TANF child-only grant does not by itself establish CCAP eligibility; CCAP has separate activity and income requirements.

Applying for CCAP

Start at your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency or through the ABE portal at abe.illinois.gov. You'll need proof of your work or education activity, proof of the child's age and residency, and documentation of your relationship to the child.

Processing times vary by region. CCR&R agencies in Cook County tend to have longer wait times than downstate offices.

For a full picture of how CCAP fits with TANF, SNAP, and All Kids — including which benefits interact and which are independent — the Illinois kinship financial help guide maps every program to your specific situation.

See more Illinois guides →