Indiana CCDF Childcare Vouchers for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Childcare costs can run $800 or more per month in Indiana. If you're a grandparent who went back to work or stayed working after a grandchild moved in, CCDF vouchers can cover most or all of that expense.

What CCDF Vouchers Cover

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program pays childcare providers directly on your behalf. You choose the provider — a licensed center, a family childcare home, or an approved in-home caregiver. The voucher covers the cost while you work, search for a job, or attend education or training programs.

FSSA's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) administers the program through the Carefinder portal.

Income Limits

Initial eligibility requires gross household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level. The dollar limit depends on household size and the current poverty guidelines.

Once you're enrolled, continuing eligibility is more generous — income can rise up to 85% of the State Median Income without losing the voucher. This protects families who get a raise or pick up extra hours.

Unlike Child-Only TANF, CCDF counts the caregiver's income. Your wages, pension, Social Security, and other income all factor in.

The Waitlist

CCDF funding is capped, and Indiana maintains a waitlist when demand exceeds capacity. Wait times vary by county and by the age of the child (infant care slots are scarcer).

There's one important exception: children placed by DCS through foster care or CHINS cases receive priority or are exempt from the waitlist entirely. If the grandchild was placed in your home by DCS, mention this when you apply.

DCS Childcare Allowance (Separate From CCDF)

If the child is a DCS ward placed in your home and you're an unlicensed relative caregiver, DCS provides a separate childcare allowance of up to $18 per day ($90 per week) per child. This is paid directly by DCS, not through the CCDF system. Ask your Family Case Manager how DCS requests or authorizes the allowance; you do not apply for it through Carefinder.

This DCS allowance and CCDF vouchers serve different populations. DCS childcare is for formal child welfare placements. CCDF vouchers are for income-eligible families, including informal kinship caregivers.

How to Apply

Apply through the FSSA Carefinder portal or contact your local CCDF office. You'll need:

• Proof of income (pay stubs, Social Security statements, pension documentation)
• Proof of the activity requiring childcare (employment verification, school enrollment, job search log)
• The child's identity documents
• Your chosen childcare provider's information

Processing times vary. If you're on the waitlist, ask about your position periodically — priorities shift as slots open up.

Combining CCDF With Other Benefits

CCDF eligibility is separate from TANF and SNAP. Receiving one doesn't disqualify you from the others. A working grandparent could receive CCDF vouchers for childcare, Child-Only TANF for the grandchild's basic needs, and SNAP for groceries — all simultaneously.

The Indiana Kinship Financial Help Guide includes an eligibility matrix showing which benefits you can stack and how the income rules differ across programs.

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