Ohio Childcare Assistance for Kinship Caregivers: PFCC Subsidies and Eligibility

Childcare Costs on Top of Everything Else

Raising a relative's child often means arranging childcare you never budgeted for. If you're still working, you need someone to watch the child during the day. If you're retired, you might need respite — especially if the child is young and you're managing health issues of your own.

Ohio's Publicly Funded Child Care program covers most or all of the cost for qualifying families. The subsidy pays a licensed provider directly; you pay a sliding-scale copay based on your income.

Who Qualifies

PFCC eligibility is tied to an activity requirement — you need to be doing one of the following:

• Working
• Enrolled in an approved education or training program
• Participating in OWF work activities

If you're retired or disabled, you can still qualify if you're caring for a child with documented special needs or if the child is under a targeted child protection service plan.

The initial income eligibility threshold is typically at or below 142% of the federal poverty level. For a grandparent and one grandchild, use 142% of the current federal poverty guideline for a two-person household as the gross-income limit.

Copay Waivers

The copay is a sliding scale based on your income. Families at or below 100% FPL pay nothing — the copay is waived completely. As income rises, the copay increases, but the state covers the bulk of the childcare cost.

The subsidy pays the provider directly, so you won't be writing a check and waiting for reimbursement.

How to Apply

Submit the application through your county CDJFS. You can use the same JFS 07200 form that covers OWF, SNAP, and Medicaid, or apply through the PFCC-specific channels your county offers.

Bring proof of your activity (pay stubs, school enrollment letter, or OWF participation records), proof of income, and documentation that the child lives with you.

A Note for Grandparents Who Are Still Working

If you're working and earning a paycheck, PFCC can be especially valuable. The subsidy lets you keep your income while the child is in quality care during the day. And if you're also receiving OWF child-only cash, that grant isn't affected by your employment — remember, your income is excluded from the child-only calculation.

The Ohio kinship financial help guide covers PFCC alongside the other programs and shows how to apply for everything at once through your county JFS office.

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