The Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program is a federally and state-funded program that provides child care subsidies to families, and is administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).  WCCC eligibility requirements for parents or consumers and requirements for children receiving the child care can be found in statute and DCYF rules.  Eligible families must make a copayment to the child care provider based on the family's countable income, which are established in state law.

Parents or consumers must:

• have parental control of one or more eligible children;
• live in the state;
• participate in an approved activity or meet special circumstances; 
• have a countable income below a certain threshold;
• not have assets that exceed $1 million; and
• have an agreed payment arrangement with any provider to whom an outstanding WCCC copayment is owed. 

Children must:

• reside in the state; and 
• be less than 13 years of age, or be less than 19 years of age and have a verified special need or be under court supervision.

In 2021 WCCC eligibility was expanded by phasing in higher income thresholds and lowering copayments.  In 2023 WCCC eligibility was expanded to additional groups including that DCYF may not consider the immigration status of a child when determining eligibility for WCCC benefits.

Existing statutory language is reorganized into the following sections and placed under a new subchapter heading titled "subsidized child care":

• general policies;
• general eligibility requirements;
• copayments;
• exceptions to approved activity requirements;
• categorical eligibility; and
• expanded eligibility. 

Deadlines that have passed and language that no longer applies are removed.  Two statutes that are no longer in effect are repealed.

References to DCYF rules are added as it relates to other WCCC eligibility requirements.

The term "immigration status" is changed to "citizenship status" as it relates to eligibility for WCCC benefits.