Mississippi Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) for Grandparents

Childcare is one of the hardest expenses for a grandparent on a fixed income to absorb — a full-time slot in Mississippi can cost $500 to $800 per month, which is more than the child-only TANF grant and sometimes more than a month of Social Security. The Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) covers most or all of that cost for qualifying families, and kinship households get priority.

What CCPP Covers

CCPP provides childcare vouchers that pay a licensed childcare provider directly. You choose the provider — a licensed center, a registered family home, or an approved in-home caregiver. MDHS pays the provider up to the state reimbursement rate, and you pay a co-payment based on a sliding fee scale tied to your household income.

The program is managed by the MDHS Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD).

Eligibility for Kinship Caregivers

To qualify for CCPP, you generally need to meet a work or education requirement — typically 25 hours per week of work, or enrollment in an approved education or training program. Income must fall within the state's eligibility threshold for childcare subsidies.

Kinship households have one significant advantage: children placed in informal or formal kinship care, or children identified as needing protective services, receive priority placement on the CCPP waiting list. In a state where the standard wait can stretch for months, that priority matters.

How to Apply

Contact your local MDHS county office or call MDHS Client Services at 1-800-948-3050. You'll need:

• Proof of employment or school enrollment (pay stubs, employer letter, or class schedule)
• Proof of the child's age and identity (birth certificate)
• Household income documentation
• The name and license number of your chosen childcare provider

If you are already receiving TANF or SNAP, MDHS may already have most of this documentation on file, which can speed the process.

Co-Payments

CCPP co-payments are calculated on a sliding scale. Lower-income households pay less. If you have very low income — especially if you're receiving child-only TANF — the co-payment may be minimal. The exact amount is determined during the eligibility interview based on household size, income, and the cost of the provider you choose.

Combining CCPP with Other Benefits

CCPP does not count as income for TANF or SNAP purposes. Receiving childcare assistance does not reduce your food stamps or your child's cash grant. In fact, the work activity that CCPP enables may improve your SNAP calculation through the earned income deduction.

For grandparents who are retired and not working, the work requirement can be a barrier. However, if you are enrolled in a training program, GED classes, or a community college course, that typically satisfies the requirement. Talk to your MDHS caseworker about whether your specific situation qualifies.

What CCPP Does Not Cover

CCPP vouchers cover childcare while you work or attend school. They do not cover occasional babysitting, after-school tutoring, or respite care. For respite, relative caregivers aged 55+ may qualify for support through the Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program, which operates through Mississippi's Area Agencies on Aging.

Our Mississippi Kinship Financial Help guide includes CCPP alongside TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid in one organized document, so you can apply for everything in a single prepared visit to your county office.

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