If eligible, DHS will pay all or part of your child care costs directly to a licensed and contracted child care provider while you work, attend school or training. You may be required to pay a portion of child care costs based on your household income.

Child care may be approved from birth to age 13. Children with disabilities may qualify up to age 19.

If you previously received benefits from DHS, you may apply by clicking on the Apply for Benefits hyperlink.  If you are a first time user, you will first need to create a user name and password. You may click on the Create User ID hyperlink to do so.  

After you submit the online application, you must complete an interview with a DHS worker and answer some additional eligibility questions. If you apply at the DHS office, come prepared to be interviewed the same day. If you apply online and provide a telephone number, the worker will try to contact you to complete the interview by telephone or to arrange an appointment. If the worker is unable to reach you at this number, you will receive a letter scheduling an interview.

You must show at least ONE document for each type of verification.

You must also provide the name of the child care provider you wish to use. If you choose a child care center, that center must be at two, three, four or five star status unless certain exception criteria is met. Find a provider by using the Child Care Locator.

You may choose a family child care home or a child care center that has a license and contract through DHS. A child care provider can be found using the Child Care Locator or by contacting the Oklahoma Child Care Resource and Referral Agency at 1-888-962-2772 or 405-525-8783 for Spanish.

You cannot choose a child care home where you work or one in which you live. You cannot choose a child care home or center in which you have an ownership interest.  

You can also choose to use an in-home provider. This is when a relative who meets a required degree of relationship comes into your home to care for your child. Have the chosen relative email InHomeChildCare@okdhs.org if you are interested in this option.

Let your worker know about the problem right away. Your worker will try to contact your employer to get the information over the telephone. If your worker is unable to contact your employer, they can approve 30 days of child care based upon your statement of the hours you will work. You must provide proof of your income before any more child care is approved.

The earliest date child care can be approved is the date that you complete the interview and provide all needed verification. This includes the name of the provider you choose. if you are eligible, your worker must approve your application within 2 working days of completing an interview and receiving all necessary verification from you.

You will receive a Notice of Action letter. This notice will tell you if your benefits were approved or denied. If approved, the letter will tell you how much you need to pay toward the cost of care (this is called a family share copayment) and how much care is approved.

Appendix C-4, Child Care Eligibility/Co-payment Chart gives income eligibility limits. The income eligibility limits vary based on family size and amount of income.

You will be given an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card when you apply for child care benefits. This card is used to track the days and times your child attends the child care facility. You must watch an EBT training video that explains how to use your card and your responsibilities before you get the card.