Minneapolis Child Care Assistance: Who Waits, Who Gets In, and What It Costs
In Hennepin County, whether you get child care help quickly or wait for it often depends on one question: are you on MFIP right now, or were you recently? Here's how Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program sorts families, what the income limits and copays look like under the schedule that took effect October 12, 2026, and how to apply from Minneapolis.
AT A GLANCE
|
Two doors into the same program
CCAP is one program, but it has several funding streams, which the state calls subprograms. Which one you land in decides whether you wait.
MFIP and DWP child care is for families getting cash assistance through the Minnesota Family Investment Program or the Diversionary Work Program. Transition Year child care covers up to 12 months after an MFIP or DWP cash case closes. The CCAP manual treats these as funded for everyone who qualifies.
Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) is for everyone else: working families, students and job seekers who aren't on cash assistance. The manual says plainly that BSF "is not fully funded." Each county gets a yearly allocation. When the money runs out, the county has to keep a waiting list. That's the situation in Hennepin County right now.
Families who don't get MFIP should call their county or Tribe before applying to see whether there's a waiting list, the state's family guide advises. In Hennepin County, the answer today is yes.
Who is on Hennepin's list
DCYF publishes a monthly count of Basic Sliding Fee waiting lists. Its May 2026 report showed:
Priority group | Hennepin County | Statewide |
|---|---|---|
1st: parents finishing high school, a GED or basic skills | 0 | 15 |
2nd: veterans | 0 | 14 |
3rd: all other families | 109 | 2,257 |
4th: Portability Pool (moved from another county) | 8 | 117 |
5th: finished Transition Year | 670 | 939 |
Total | 787 | 3,342 |
Most families on Hennepin's list are in the fifth group. Under state policy, those families have used up their Transition Year but stay covered through Transition Year Extension until a Basic Sliding Fee slot opens. There's no time limit on that extension as long as they stay eligible. The 109 families in the third group are the ones most likely to be waiting with no help at all.
---
How the waiting list works
The CCAP policy manual sets the rules every county follows:
You can get on the list before you have every document. The county does a quick preliminary check of your family size, income and activity. No proof is required at that stage.
Your place is dated. For most families, your waiting list date is the day you contacted the agency or the day it received your application. Calling early matters.
Higher groups go first. Counties serve the highest priority group before moving to the next one. Families in the third group can be sorted further by county sub-priorities set in the county's child care fund plan.
You'll be told where you stand. The county must tell you your priority group and either how many families are on the list or an estimate of how long you'll wait.
The list is checked at least every six months. Watch your mail and answer any update request the county sends, so your information stays current.
When your turn comes, the county sends an application and asks for proof. If you're temporarily not eligible when you reach the top, the county keeps you at the top of your group for up to 90 days and serves the next family.
If you're leaving MFIP
This is the path where timing matters most. If you had a child care case open when your MFIP or DWP cash closed, the county can switch you to Transition Year without a new application. If you didn't, you can still apply for Transition Year for up to 12 months after the cash case closes.
When Transition Year ends and there's still a waiting list, the county moves you to Transition Year Extension. It also puts you on the list in the fifth group, dated from the day you first became eligible for Transition Year. If you lose eligibility while on the extension, you're dropped from the fifth group and have to reapply as a new applicant under the 47% limit.
---
Income limits from October 12, 2026
DCYF's copayment schedule (form DHS-6413O) uses annual gross income and three limits. Which one applies depends on where you are in the program.
Family size | To start (47%) | At redetermination (67%) | During your 12 months (85%) |
|---|---|---|---|
2 | $47,282 | $67,401 | $85,509 |
3 | $58,406 | $83,260 | $105,629 |
4 | $69,531 | $99,119 | $125,748 |
5 | $80,656 | $114,978 | $145,868 |
6 | $91,781 | $130,837 | $165,987 |
The 47% line is the entrance limit for most new applicants. MFIP families can enter at the 67% exit level instead. Once you're approved, a raise won't end your care as long as you stay at or below 85% during your 12-month eligibility period. At redetermination, you need to be at or below 67%. DCYF's program page also lists limits for families of 7 to 9. Every family must have assets of $1 million or less.
What the copay looks like
Copays are paid to your provider every two weeks. The amount rises with income. A few sample bands from the October 2026 schedule:
Annual income | Family of 3: copay every 2 weeks | Family of 4: copay every 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|
Lowest band | $0 up to $20,489 | $0 up to $24,749 |
Next band | $2 ($20,490 to $27,319) | $2 ($24,750 to $32,999) |
Third band | $35 ($27,320 to $34,459) | $41 ($33,000 to $41,022) |
Top of the schedule | $448 ($80,414 to $83,260) | $534 ($95,731 to $99,119) |
Look up your exact band on DHS-6413O. Keep in mind that the copay isn't your only cost. Hennepin County pays providers only up to state maximum rates. If your provider charges more, you pay the difference. Providers can also charge late fees, optional activity fees, transportation fees and fees for hours the county didn't authorize.
Don't fall behind on copays. Under state policy, a family that doesn't pay its copay is ineligible until it pays or reaches a payment agreement with the provider and county and keeps to it. Hennepin County says benefits end until the copay is paid or the provider agrees to another arrangement.
---
Applying from Minneapolis
Call Hennepin County first at 612-348-5937 to ask about the waiting list and get your date recorded. If you already have a case in any county, contact your current worker instead.
Apply online at MNbenefits.mn.gov. The state also accepts paper forms: DHS-3550 if you're applying only for child care, or the Combined Application with the child care addendum (DHS-5223D) if you're also applying for cash or food help.
Send proof. Hennepin asks for proof of address, identity, income (including child support), and your work and school schedules.
Pick a registered provider. Licensed centers, licensed family child care, license-exempt programs such as school programs, and legal nonlicensed caregivers can all qualify. Every provider must be registered with DCYF, and Hennepin says registration takes 4 to 6 weeks. A legal nonlicensed provider must be 18 or older and pass a background check.
Wait for two notices. First comes an eligibility notice with your copay and worker contact. The second is a Service Authorization, sent once a provider is chosen. The family guide says care isn't paid until that authorization is issued.
If your family is homeless
Families experiencing homelessness get expedited child care. Under the family guide, they have three months after applying to turn in proof and start an approved activity. The manual limits expedited child care to once every six months.
Keeping your care
Renew every 12 months. You'll be sent a renewal packet 45 days before it's due. If you don't return it with proof, eligibility ends 15 days after the due date.
Report changes in income, jobs, work hours, school schedules, marital status, family size or address within 10 days. Hennepin says unpaid overpayments are collected by raising your copay until the debt is paid.
To change providers, give your current provider 15 days' written notice and tell your worker.
A child can use two providers, but care at the second one is capped at 20 hours every two weeks. A legal nonlicensed provider doesn't count toward that limit.
The program pays for up to 10 consecutive absent days, or 25 absent days in a calendar year, plus up to 10 holidays a year per child.
If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal within 30 days of the notice, in writing to the county or to the state Appeals Division.
---
While you wait
Early Learning Scholarships: Hennepin County points families to Think Small for scholarships and other child care resources. Call 651-641-0332. Parent Aware can also help you find programs at 1-888-291-9811.
Head Start: DCYF points families to the Minnesota Department of Education at 651-582-8412.
College students: the Office of Higher Education's Postsecondary Child Care Grant can help students with children 12 and under who aren't getting MFIP.
Finding care: Child Care Aware is at 651-290-9704.
Before you call
☐ Your family size and total yearly gross income, including child support
☐ Your job or school schedule, or your job search plan
☐ The date your MFIP or DWP cash case closed, if it did
☐ Your children's ages and any special needs
☐ The name of the provider you want, and whether they're DCYF-registered
☐ Your MNbenefits confirmation, if you already applied
For statewide CCAP questions, DCYF's line is 651-431-3809. Hennepin County's general information line is 612-348-3000, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
|
More help in Minneapolis
Related guides
Official sources
Last checked: October 23, 2026. Income limits and copays are from DHS-6413O, effective October 12, 2026. Waiting list figures are DCYF's May 2026 report. Program rules are from the January 2026 CCAP Policy Manual, the April 2026 family guide and Hennepin County's child care assistance page.
Comments