To support Oregon’s working families dealing with the spread of COVID-19, the Oregon Department of Human Service is making s and the Early Learning Division immediate changes to childcare benefits. The temporary changes are intended to help low-income, working families access childcare and help providers stay in business during the state of emergency.
The changes are:
• Eliminating co-pays for eligible families.
• Providing access to more families by increasing the income limit from 185 percent of the federal poverty level ($4,040 per month for a family of four) to 250 percent of the federal poverty level or 85 percent of the state median income, whichever is higher for the family size ($5,899 per month for a family of four).
• Ensuring more certainty for providers. Childcare providers are able to continue to receive payments from DHS, even if children are unable to attend or if they have to temporary shut down during the state of emergency.
Providers and parents/caretakers may contact the DHS Direct Pay Unit with questions Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-699-9074.