Indiana CCDF provider guide
Indiana’s pay-by-enrollment model replaced daily swipe-based reimbursement, but it did not remove provider attendance duties. Providers keep their own attendance record, report absences through the approved method, monitor the active voucher, collect the assigned copay, and reconcile the state payment.
Cited to 470 IAC 3-4.7Verified July 2026Summary only, not legal advice
- Program
- CCDF
- Attendance / signature record
- Indiana Attendance
- Eligibility basis
- Initial entry: gross monthly income at or below 135% FPL. Continuing: until income exceeds 85% of Indiana State Median Income.
- Income eligibility
- Effective April 5, 2026. To first get on CCDF, gross monthly income must be at or below 135% FPL (for example $3,713/mo for a family of 4). Once enrolled, a family stays eligible until income exceeds 85% of Indiana State Median Income (for example $7,619/mo for a family of 4). A funding-driven waitlist applies: FSSA prioritizes families under 100% FPL for new enrollment, so meeting 135% FPL does not guarantee immediate enrollment. Verified against the official FSSA OECOSL income-limit charts.
- Monthly income limits (by household size)
- 2 in household: $2,435/mo3 in household: $3,074/mo4 in household: $3,713/mo5 in household: $4,352/mo6 in household: $4,991/mo7 in household: $5,630/mo
- Family copay
- Effective April 5, 2026, the CCDF copay is a weekly per-family fee paid directly to the provider, on a sliding scale by income band (% of FPL) and year of CCDF participation (Year 1 to 3 lowest, rising through Year 10+). Families at or under 100% FPL pay $0. For a family of 4 in Year 1 to 3, weekly copays run about $32 (just over 100% FPL) to about $61 at the 135% FPL entry ceiling, then keep rising into the low hundreds (up to about $274 to $337/week) as income approaches the 85%-SMI continuing cap. Indiana did not zero or cap copays; they remain income-based.
- Grace absence days
- Up to 40 paid absence days per year
- Source
- Figures effective 2026. Official Indiana program source
Citation: 470 IAC 3-4.7
Provider workflow · reviewed July 11, 2026
How the Indiana CCDF provider workflow fits together
Indiana’s pay-by-enrollment model replaced daily swipe-based reimbursement, but it did not remove provider attendance duties. Providers keep their own attendance record, report absences through the approved method, monitor the active voucher, collect the assigned copay, and reconcile the state payment.
- 1
Confirm the voucher before providing subsidized care
The current Indiana provider manual tells providers to verify assigned children under My Vouchers in the provider portal. Providing care without an authorized voucher is at the provider’s risk.
- 2
Keep attendance and report absences
Providers track attendance using their internal business record and submit absences through the provider portal or an Indiana-preferred child care management system. Indiana’s public guidance says the model still requires a backup attendance record for licensing and audit purposes.
- 3
Watch the excessive-absence thresholds
Indiana currently issues warnings at 10, 20, 30, and 35 absence days and terminates a voucher at 40 total or 20 consecutive absence days in the enrollment year. A gap should be coordinated with the eligibility office when a child will not use care for two weeks or more.
- 4
Collect the assigned copay and report problems
The provider manual makes the program responsible for collecting the voucher copay. It directs the provider to contact the local eligibility office within 30 days of the first missed copay when collection is a problem.
- 5
Submit, reconcile, and retain
Indiana posts two-week service periods and payment schedules. Compare the roster, absence submission, expected voucher amount, copay, and deposit. Keep the underlying attendance record for at least three years; the state notes that three months with no reported absences can trigger an audit.
Pre-submission reconciliation checklist
- The child appears under My Vouchers with the correct provider and active voucher period.
- Internal arrival/departure attendance is complete even though reimbursement is enrollment-based.
- Absences and closure days are submitted for the correct two-week service period using one approved submission method.
- Absence warnings, voucher end dates, gaps, and disenrollment notices are followed up before they create an overpayment.
- The assigned weekly copay and any provider overage are tracked separately from the voucher reimbursement.
- The expected reimbursement is compared with the posted payment and exceptions are taken to the policy consultant or support channel.
What to treat as exact—and what not to
Exact
Indiana uses pay by enrollment, biweekly absence submissions, published absence thresholds, and a provider portal reached through I-LEAD.
Varies
Voucher dates, authorized care, county reimbursement, quality adjustments, copay, overage, and closure treatment vary by child, provider, and service period.
Confirm in the state system
Confirm the active voucher, roster, submission method, absence total, payment schedule, and deposit in the Indiana provider portal and Tyler payment records.
Product boundary
What hayway does—and does not replace
hayway can
- • Record center attendance and preserve the underlying attendance history used for review.
- • Track configured Indiana absence thresholds and flag approaching voucher-risk levels.
- • Prepare claim and remittance records so operators can compare expected and received amounts.
hayway does not
- • Create, approve, renew, pause, or terminate an Indiana voucher.
- • Act as an Indiana-preferred CCMS submission integration or automatically send absences to the provider portal.
- • Replace I-LEAD, the provider portal, Tyler Technologies, the provider manual, or a policy consultant.
Official sources checked
Reviewed July 11, 2026. Use the live agency page or rule text for the current requirement before acting.
Continue the workflow
Indiana child care subsidy FAQ
What subsidy program serves Indiana families and what absence rules apply?
Indiana participates in the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), administered by OECOSL, which provides vouchers to eligible lower-income working or student families on a sliding-scale copay. CCDF allows up to 40 grace absence days per year, and providers submit attendance for reimbursement on a regular weekly cycle.
Disclaimer: These figures are a summary drawn from Indiana rule 470 IAC 3-4.7 and FSSA guidance; operators should confirm current requirements directly with FSSA's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning before acting. This page is a summary for informational purposes only and is not legal or compliance advice. Confirm with Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.