ND Working Parents Child Care Relief: Employers

• Employer opts-in to participate
• Employer receives a code to share with employees who must use it when they apply
• Working parent applies (HHS determines eligibility)
• Employer provides benefit to employees
• Employer uploads monthly child care benefit verification of at least $300 per infant/toddler for qualifying employees to HHS
  • Verification must be uploaded by the 7th of the month (following the month it was paid to your employees) for the working parent to receive the match from HHS. 
  • For example, if you have paid a benefit for the month of March, you must upload verification by April 7 for your employees to receive the state match for the month of March.
  • If benefit is paid in increments, wait to upload child care benefit verification until you can provide proof of the full monthly benefit ($300/month per eligible child (age birth - 36 months)
• HHS pays a $300 match per child (age birth - 36 months) directly to qualifying working parent

Questions?

Email: dhsec@nd.gov
Phone: 701-328-2115 press 2; 711 (TTY)

Qualifying Household Incomes *(before taxes)

Resources for participating employers:

• FLYER to hand to employees - Version 1 
• FLYER to hand to employees - Version 2 

Paying for Child Care

Families can apply for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which helps pay a portion of the cost of child care for each eligible child (birth through 13th birthday) for qualifying families. Learn more at hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp/ccap

Finding and Choosing Child Care

Know parents looking for child care? Have them visit the Early Childhood Information for Families page. Families can learn about care options, explore resources to help them make a decision, and use an online search tool.

Employer should notify HHS immediately at dhsec@nd.gov that the employee is no longer employed with the following information:

• Employee first and last name
• Date employment ended
• Date the employee was last eligible for the WPPCR benefit

Discounted child care does not count as an eligible benefit for parents to receive the HHS WPCCR matching stipend. The state does not consider a discount a paid stipend. Employers must pay a direct $300 payment (stipend) to employees for child care. A discount is like a coupon. A stipend is a taxable payment.

It is recommended that you maintain all financial records for a minimum of 7 years.

Attestation means the act of a person affirming through an electronic or written signature that the statements the person made when applying for eligibility are truthful and correct.

Part-time employees can participate as long as the employer provides a $300 child care benefit (stipend) to the employee

Children under the age of 36 months must be attending an HHS licensed child care program, either full or part-time. 

Payment is dispersed directly to the qualifying parent monthly after the employer uploads monthly child care benefit verification.  

(See ‘How it Works’ section of the webpage.)