The Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program helps families who are working, in school, or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pay for child care, including registration fees. We also work with partners across the state to help families find and keep good child care. Sign up for email updates
ERDC is a subsidy program. This means many families still pay part of the child care cost. This is called a copayment (copay).
ERDC now has a waitlist for most families applying to the program. The waitlist is open due to increased demand and limited funding. Families with specific needs can skip the waitlist and there are resources available to support families while they wait.
How to Apply for ERDC
•You can apply for ERDC and be screened to skip or join the
waitlist online, by phone, or in person at a local office.
Online
Apply Now
You will need to create a ONE Online account.
By Phone
Call 800-699-9075
Hours are Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
In Person
In Person
Hours are Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Text the word "children" to 898211, or call 211 if you need help finding your local office or figuring out how to apply to ERDC.
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Who is Eligible for ERDC
This program is for families that:
- Live in Oregon.
- Are working or in school or receiving TANF.
- In a two-parent family, both parents must be working or in school. (This does not apply to parents receiving TANF)
- There are some exceptions for two parent households where one parent can’t provide child care because of a medical or mental health condition, or if supervised contact is required by the State.
- Need child care to keep working, attending school, or participating in family well-being activities.
- Have a child who is:
- Under 13 years old and needs child care, or
- 13 to 17 years old and needs care because of special circumstances.
- Meet income limits (see below on this page).
Note: The child care provider you use needs to be approved to receive ERDC payments. This is not the same as being a licensed child care provider.
Families may also be able to get cash benefits through the TANF program. Call your local ODHS officeto see if you are eligible.
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Income Limits for ERDC
The income limits when you first apply are lower than the ongoing and exit income limits. This means you can start making more money and still keep your ERDC benefits.
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When you first apply
These are the initial income limits as of 3/1/2025. You must earn under these amounts to
start getting ERDC. These amounts are 200% of federal poverty level.
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Ongoing and exit limits
These are the ongoing and exit income limits as of 3/1/2025. You must earn under these amounts to keep
getting ERDC. These amounts are 250% of federal poverty level or 85% of state median income, whichever is higher.
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How ERDC Works
When you are approved for ERDC, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) helps you pay for child care.
- You choose your child care provider. Make sure they are approved to receive ERDC payments before they start taking care of your child.
- DELC pays part of your child care bill directly to your provider.
- You pay a copay each month directly to your provider. The copay amount depends on your family size and income.
- If your provider charges more than the maximum amount DELC will cover, you pay the additional cost.
Child care assistance covers:
- The time you are at work or school
- Your meal time while working
- Travel time between child care and work or school
- Sleep hours if you work a night shift
- Study hours while in school
- Family well being activities
Did you know that your family member, friend, or neighbor could get paid to care for your child?
View the family, friend, and neighbor flyer to learn more!
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What families need to know about the ERDC Waitlist
- ERDC now has a waitlist due to increased demand and limited funding.
- If you are getting ERDC now, the waitlist will not affect you. You will continue to get benefits.
- While the waitlist is active, when families apply for ERDC, they will be placed on the waitlist unless they meet an exemption. Some families will be able to skip the waitlist, including:
- Families recently or currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS)
- Families referred by the Child Welfare Division of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
- Families reapplying for ERDC within two months of benefits ending
- Families eligible for an ERDC contracted slot
- Baby Promise and specific Head Start programs are considered ERDC contracted slots. ERDC contracted slots mean that DELC contracts with specific partners to hold slots for children receiving ERDC. These contracted slots are located in high-quality child-care settings in specific regions in Oregon.
- Families will not move off the waitlist until the ERDC caseload drops significantly or the program gets more funding. Families can expect to stay on the waitlist for 18 months, but it may be longer.
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ERDC Waitlist FAQs
ERDC has recently changed to work better for families. Thousands of families joined the program in July and August 2023. This means more families are benefiting from ERDC, but there is not enough program funding to support ERDC's growth.
In November 2023, ERDC opened a waitlist because of the increased demand and limited funding. If you are getting ERDC now, the waitlist will not affect you. You will continue to receive benefits as usual. Please remember to recertify on time to keep your benefits. Some families with specific needs can skip the waitlist.
How the Waitlist Works
What Families Can Expect While on the Waitlist
Waitlist Info for Families Already Approved for ERDC
Info for Families Interested in ERDC
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ERDC Waitlist Resources
ERDC Waitlist One Pager
English |
Español/Spanish |
Русский/Russian |
繁體中文/Chinese(Traditional) | Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese
ERDC Family Resource Guide
English |
Español/Spanish |
Русский/Russian |
繁體中文/Chinese(Traditional) | Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese
211 and Early Learning Hubs can assist you in learning more about child care resources available in your area.
Contact 211 by:
- Dialing 211 or 1-866-698-6155
- Texting the keyword "children" to 898211
- Emailing
children@211info.org– response within 24 hours
- Visit 211Info
Find contact information for your local Early Learning Hub using DELC's Early Learning Hub finder.
Open DELC's Early Learning Hub Finder
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Families interested in ERDC may qualify for another affordable child care program.
The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) offers several affordable, high-quality early learning and care programs. Income-eligible families with children under 5 years old may be able to get support paying for child care through:
Preschool Promise (PSP)
Preschool Promise (PSP) provides free, high-quality early care and education to families who are living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The program serves children ages 3 to 5 in a variety of educational settings. The Early Learning Hub in your community can help you determine if Preschool Promise might be an option for your family. See the income limit table by family size.
Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (OPK)
Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (OPK) was established in 1987 and serves families from the period of prenatal to five years old. This program provides free, high-quality early care and education to families who are living at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
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Resources