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STATEWashingtonChild Care
Washington Child Care Assistance
Working Connections Child CareWashington

Check if you qualify in Washington

Enter your household size and monthly income to see if you qualify for child care assistance in Washington. Results are instant, nothing is stored.

For a household of 3, the income limit to apply in Washington is $5,851 a month (60% of state median income) and $6,339 (65% of state median income) to stay enrolled.

Estimated copay: no copay

Your state agency confirms your eligibility and final copay.

Applications are processed by Washington Working Connections Child Care (WCCC).

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC)

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps low-income families in Washington pay for child care while parents work, look for a job, or attend school or training.

The state pays a portion of child care costs, while the parent is responsible for a monthly co-payment  paid to the provider.

Monthly co-payments are based on income, ranging from $0 for families at 0–20% of SMI to $215 for families reapplying at 60–65% of SMI.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Washington State?

The current income eligibility for families is capped at 60% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application or up to 65% at the time of redetermination.

Child care subsidy income limits by household size, Washingtonians
Household Size60% SMIInitial Eligibility65% SMIRedetermination
2$4,737$5,131
3$5,851$6,339
4$6,966$7,546
5$8,080$8,753
6$9,195$9,961
7$9,404$10,187
8$9,613$10,414
The income limits are presented as dollar amounts derived from a percentage of either the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or the State Median Income (SMI) for 2026.

How much is the copay for Working Connections Child Care in Washington?

Washington uses a flat monthly copay that depends on your income as a share of State Median Income (SMI), and families with the lowest incomes may pay nothing.1

Family income Monthly copay
0% to 25%$0
25% to 35%$104
35% to 45%$160
45% to 55%$225
55% to 60%$297
60% to 65% (reapplications only)$297

How do I apply for child care assistance in Washington?

To apply for child care assistance in Washington, first check your eligibility on Washington Connection . If you’re eligible, you can submit your application through the same website.

If you need help finding a licensed provider, you can contact Child Care Aware of Washington at (800) 446-1114.

Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Working Connections Child Care (WCCC)
(844) 626-8687

Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

Footnotes

  1. Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Family Copayment for Subsidized Child Care: Income Eligibility and Copay Calculation Table , effective October 1, 2026. ↩

SingleMotherGuide.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government agency. Program amounts and income limits are compiled from official federal and state sources, which are cited on the page, and are reviewed periodically and updated as those sources change.

The information is provided for general guidance and is not legal or financial advice. The administering agency makes the final determination of eligibility and benefit amounts. To report an error, please contact us.

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may change; refer to the cited sources for the most current information.

Last updated
Updated by
Ada Hu
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