The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) will resume accepting applications to the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) starting on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
DHW had paused new applications for ICCP on August 22, 2024, except for designated priority populations, to ensure we continued to serve Idaho’s neediest families while remaining within our appropriation as required by state law. The enrollment pause avoided a projected budget deficit of over $15 million in state fiscal year 2025 (SFY2025).
When new enrollment resumes in January 2025, the family income threshold to qualify for ICCP will be 130% of the federal poverty level. This means:
• New families applying for the program must have income of 130% of the federal poverty level or less to qualify.
• Existing ICCP recipients will not be impacted by the lower eligibility threshold until they recertify, which occurs annually. The department is preparing a phase-out plan for existing ICCP recipients who do not qualify upon recertification to help them transition out of the ICCP program.
DHW will implement updated local market rates on July 1, 2025, to coincide with the new state fiscal year and set payments to providers at the 65th percentile of 2024 local market survey rates for all age groups. This is a rate increase compared to today’s rates for all age groups.
With these changes the ICCP program will be financially sound for SFY2025.
To operate within the program’s budget in SFY2026 and beyond and to avoid the need for future enrollment pauses, the department will implement an enrollment waitlist, a tool used in 38 other states and U.S. territories. A waitlist will let the budget drive the program, allowing us to review the monthly spend and open up or tighten up on seats in the program accordingly.
While we anticipate significant enrollment in January due to a pent-up demand during the enrollment pause, we do not expect a waitlist to occur immediately. Based on projected program growth and increased market costs, we anticipate instituting a waitlist no later than July 2025 and will develop the waitlist parameters and standards over the next few months. Priority populations will not be subject to the waitlist.
These combined changes to the program will restore eligibility to historical levels and this ensures we continue to serve Idaho’s neediest families while remaining within our appropriation.
Families wishing to apply for ICCP on January 13, 2025, or later, and families currently participating with ICCP may contact DHW at 1-877-456-1233 or via email at mybenefits@dhw.idaho.gov with any questions.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.