Indiana runs its publicly funded child care subsidy through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program, administered by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) and delivered through twelve regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. CCDF covers FSSA-licensed centers, licensed family child care homes, registered ministry providers, and Legally License Exempt in-home relatives. Indiana's On My Way Pre-K program runs separately under FSSA for at-risk four-year-olds in participating counties.
If your family income is at or below 127 percent of federal poverty level at intake, at least one parent is working, in school, or in approved job training, and your child is under thirteen, you almost certainly qualify on paper. Indiana's CCDF eligibility ceiling at intake is more restrictive than Illinois, Michigan, or Ohio, but the absence of a statewide waitlist in 2026 means most eligible families can be enrolled within a few weeks. Paths to QUALITY Level 3 and 4 providers receive the largest reimbursement add-ons.
FSSA OECOSL sets statewide CCDF rules: who can be eligible, what counts as a work, school, or training activity, the family co-pay schedule, and how providers are paid. Twelve regional CCR&R agencies handle intake, eligibility, family co-pay calculations, recertification, and direct provider payment. Major CCR&Rs include Early Learning Indiana (Marion County and surrounding), Child Care Answers (central Indiana), 4C of Southern Indiana (Bloomington area), and Geminus (Lake and Porter counties). Indiana's On My Way Pre-K runs separately under FSSA for at-risk four-year-olds in participating counties.
Indiana's CCDF voucher eligibility rules require a need activity (work, school, or training), Indiana residency, and household income within the ceiling.
Indiana sets initial CCDF eligibility at 127 percent of federal poverty level. Ongoing eligibility is maintained at 85 percent of SMI for the certification year. Approximate monthly intake limits for 2025-2026:
Categorical eligibility typically applies to children in protective services, children of TANF recipients, children in foster care, and homeless families. Both parents (or the single parent in a single-parent household) must be working, in school, or in an approved job-training program. Children must be under age thirteen, or under age eighteen if the child has documented special needs.
Indiana sets a monthly family co-pay on a sliding scale based on family size and gross monthly income, generally seven to ten percent of income. Approximate monthly amounts for 2025-2026:
The co-pay is paid directly to the provider each month. CCDF reimbursement covers the difference between the family co-pay and the contracted reimbursement rate, up to the FSSA-published maximum.
FSSA reimburses CCDF providers at a base rate set by county and child age, with quality enhancement add-ons for providers participating in Paths to QUALITY at Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. Level 4 providers receive the largest add-on, typically 15 to 30 percent above the base rate. Reimbursement rates were updated in 2024 to comply with the federal equal-access requirement. Full-time infant center base reimbursement ranged from roughly $700 per month in rural southern Indiana counties to roughly $1,400 per month in Marion, Hamilton, and Hendricks counties (Indianapolis metro). Family child care home rates ran 10 to 20 percent below center rates.
On My Way Pre-K provides additional state-funded preschool slots for at-risk four-year-olds in participating counties, separate from CCDF. Many working families use CCDF for younger children and combine OMW with CCDF wraparound at age four.
Indiana does not maintain a statewide CCDF waitlist in 2026, though intake capacity at the regional CCR&R level fluctuates with available funding. Categorical priority groups (TANF, foster care, child protective services, homeless families) receive expedited processing. Working families are typically determined within ten to twenty business days of completed application; categorical priority within five to ten.
Use earlylearningin.org or call 1-800-299-1627 to find the regional Child Care Resource and Referral agency for your county. Indiana has twelve CCR&Rs covering the state.
Apply with your CCR&R online through CCDF Online Eligibility, in person, or by phone. The application asks for family composition, household income, the need activity, work or school hours, and a preferred provider if you have one selected.
Photo identification for each adult; birth certificates for each child; proof of Indiana residency; the last 30 days of pay stubs or a signed employer letter; school or training program enrollment documentation if applicable; current work schedule.
Categorical priority groups are typically determined within five to ten business days. Working families are determined within ten to twenty business days. The CCR&R will request additional verification if needed.
CCDF families select any FSSA-licensed center, licensed family child care home, registered ministry, or Legally License Exempt in-home relative provider (with background checks). The CCR&R issues a CCDF voucher with approved hours and reimbursement rate. The CCR&R pays the provider directly, and the family pays the monthly co-pay.
Provider participation in CCDF is voluntary. To accept the CCDF voucher, the provider must hold a current FSSA center license, family child care home license, registered ministry status, or Legally License Exempt registration, sign a CCDF provider agreement, accept the county maximum reimbursement rate, and meet attendance reporting requirements. Most CCDF funding flows to Paths to QUALITY Level 3 and 4 providers. Some private centers in Hamilton, Hendricks, and Marion counties decline CCDF because their posted rates exceed the regional maximum reimbursement.
Indiana's CCDF intake ceiling at 127 percent of FPL is at the lower end among Midwestern states, more restrictive than Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Ongoing eligibility at 85 percent of SMI is comparable. Paths to QUALITY reimbursement add-ons are competitive in central Indiana and around Indianapolis, and FSSA's 2024 rate update narrowed the gap between subsidy reimbursement and market tuition in metropolitan counties. The absence of a statewide waitlist is a practical advantage relative to Illinois CCAP or Ohio Publicly Funded Child Care.
Indiana families have the right to appeal a CCR&R denial or termination by requesting a hearing through FSSA within thirty calendar days. Most denials at the agency level are reversed when the family provides missing pay stubs, a corrected work schedule, or updated household composition. If the appeal does not succeed, options include reapplying when income or hours change, pursuing Head Start or Early Head Start, enrolling a four-year-old in On My Way Pre-K in a participating county at no cost, or asking your employer about a Dependent Care FSA.
Indiana's CCDF voucher program substantially reduces daycare costs for low- and moderate-income working families, and Paths to QUALITY reimbursement add-ons reward higher-rated providers. The 127 percent FPL intake ceiling is restrictive relative to some neighboring states, but ongoing eligibility extends to 85 percent of SMI. For most Indiana families within range of the intake limit, the single best move is to apply through your regional CCR&R now, even before you need care, and to plan for On My Way Pre-K layering at age four with CCDF wraparound hours.
Initial eligibility for Indiana Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher is at or below 127 percent of FPL for a family of one and scales by family size. Ongoing eligibility is maintained at 85 percent of State Median Income for the certification year. Approximate monthly intake limits for 2026 are roughly $2,100 per month for a family of two, $2,700 per month for a family of three, and $3,200 per month for a family of four. FSSA has used 2023 and 2024 supplemental CCDBG funding to expand intake and stabilize provider reimbursement rates.
Indiana FSSA sets a monthly family co-pay on a sliding scale based on family size and gross monthly income, generally seven to ten percent of income. Co-pays typically range from $10 at the lowest-income tier to $250 to $400 at the upper end of eligibility, paid directly to the provider.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program statewide, with intake and eligibility handled by twelve regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies including Early Learning Indiana, Child Care Answers, 4C of Southern Indiana, and the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children.
Paths to QUALITY (PTQ) is Indiana's tiered quality rating and improvement system, with Level 1 through Level 4 ratings administered by FSSA OECOSL. Reimbursement rates scale with PTQ level. Level 4 providers receive the largest add-on, typically 15 to 30 percent above the base rate. Indiana's On My Way Pre-K (OMW) program runs separately for at-risk four-year-olds across participating counties.
Indiana FSSA does not maintain a statewide CCDF waitlist in 2026; however, intake capacity at the regional CCR&R level fluctuates with available funding. Categorical priority groups (TANF, foster care, child protective services, homeless families) receive expedited processing. Working families are typically determined within ten to twenty business days of completed application.
Indiana permits care by an in-home relative caregiver as a Legally License Exempt (LLE) provider. The caregiver must complete background checks, child abuse and neglect registry clearance, and FSSA registration. Most CCDF voucher funding is paid to FSSA-licensed centers, registered ministry providers, and licensed family child care homes.
Yes. Indiana TANF recipients receive guaranteed CCDF voucher while participating in IMPACT (Indiana Manpower Placement and Comprehensive Training) work activities and during the twelve-month Transitional Child Care window after TANF closes. TANF-related cases are processed within five to ten business days.
Photo identification for each adult; birth certificates for each child; proof of Indiana residency such as a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill; last 30 days of pay stubs or a signed employer letter; school or training program enrollment documentation if applicable; current work schedule. Your regional CCR&R provides a complete checklist with the application packet.
What a center or family child care home actually costs across Indiana regions in 2026.
See Indiana costs → Indiana pre-KIndiana On My Way Pre-K (OMW), participating counties, and how OMW layers with CCDF voucher wraparound.
Read the guide → BackgroundCCDBG, Head Start, and how every state's voucher program fits together.
Read the article → Free toolEstimate net out-of-pocket tuition after credits and subsidies for your zip code.
Try the calculator →Get our free daycare starter kit — the 27-question tour checklist, a cost-comparison worksheet, and what to ask about waitlists. One email, no spam.
Or jump in: tour questions · cost calculator · comparison checklist