South Dakota Child Care Assistance for Kinship Caregivers

Two Ways CCAP Helps Kinship Families

South Dakota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) serves kinship caregivers in two distinct ways. First, if you are working or studying and need childcare for the children in your care, CCAP can subsidize the cost. Second, a relative who cares for the child — a different aunt, a great-grandparent, an older sibling — can register as a relative care provider and get paid by the state for providing that care.

Both routes run through the DSS Division of Child Care Services.

Income Eligibility

General CCAP eligibility is capped at 209% of the federal poverty level. Monthly income limits by household size:

• 2 persons: $3,769
• 3 persons: $4,758
• 4 persons: $5,748
• 5 persons: $6,737

But here is the critical rule for kinship families: when determining eligibility for a child placed with a relative caretaker, DSS excludes the qualifying relative caretaker's income and assets. This mirrors the TANF child-only approach — the child's eligibility stands on its own.

Zero copayment applies at or below 170% FPL. Between 171% and 209% FPL, a sliding-scale copayment kicks in. Either way, the subsidy covers the bulk of licensed childcare costs.

Work and School Requirements

Caregivers generally need to meet work or school participation standards — DSS lists 80 work hours per month or 12 postsecondary credit hours. But relative caretakers are among the groups DSS identifies as exceptions to these requirements. Check with your caseworker about your specific situation.

Children must be under age 13 (a child who turns 13 during an eligibility period may remain eligible through the end of that period or until age 14, whichever comes first), or under age 18 and physically or mentally incapable of self-care. A child under age 19 must be enrolled in school and expected to graduate, and must be physically or mentally incapable of self-care or under court supervision.

Becoming a Relative Care Provider

South Dakota recognizes relative providers as a distinct category alongside licensed centers, registered family homes, and in-home providers. A grandparent, aunt, uncle, great-grandparent, or non-resident adult sibling can register as a relative care provider.

Relative providers have their own application forms and safety requirements through DSS. The process is less involved than becoming a licensed family child care provider — you do not need a full childcare license. DSS pays you directly for the care you provide to the eligible child.

This means a grandparent who is the primary caregiver but needs another relative to watch the child during work hours can set up that relative as a CCAP provider. Or if a great-aunt watches the children while the grandparent works, the great-aunt can register and receive payment.

Application Timeline

DSS must determine CCAP eligibility within 30 calendar days of receiving your application. If the office requests additional documents, you have 10 working days to provide them.

Certification lasts at least 13 months before recertification is required. Report changes in work hours, school enrollment, or childcare provider within 10 days.

Combining CCAP with Other Benefits

CCAP can be received alongside TANF child-only, SNAP, and Medicaid. Each program has its own application and its own income test. Receiving TANF child-only cash does not disqualify the child from CCAP.

The South Dakota Financial Help Guide maps out how each program's income rules interact, with a single document checklist that covers TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and CCAP applications together.

See more South Dakota guides →