Changes to In-Home Care Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has made temporary changes to the in-home care policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn More

Typically, a family is only eligible for in-home care if the parent/caretaker is in a work activity between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. However, effective September 1, 2020, OCDEL announced that in-home care will be an option for any Child Care Works (CCW) eligible family during all working hours for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-home care includes only the children who live in the home where care is provided and does not include other children who do not live in the home. In-home care is permitted for:

• A maximum of three children related to the operator at any one time; or

• A maximum of six of the provider’s grandchildren at any one time; or

• A maximum of five infants (a child from birth to the age of 12 months) and toddlers (a child from 13-36 months of age) who are related to the caregiver in care at any one time. The CCW payment must still be made to the parent/caretaker.

The parent/caretaker is still required to pay the:

• in-home care provider the amount of the CCW payment;

• assigned weekly copayment; and

• any additional amount necessary to meet the minimum hourly wage requirement set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for each hour of care provided and assume all tax liabilities associated with employment status.

An in-home care provider must be a relative as defined as grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling over the age of 18, not residing with the child. The in-home care provider cannot be a relative who resides in the household with the child.

For more information, see OCDEL’s full announcement.