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Department of Early Learning and Care

Child Care Assistance: Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program

The Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program helps families pay for child care and registration fees. Initially, families may qualify if they are:
  • working,
  • attending school,
  • receiving cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families–TANF),
  • on medical leave from employment or school, or
  • participating in certain programs with Child Welfare.  
ERDC also works with partners across the state to help families find and keep child care. Sign up for email updates.

ERDC is a subsidy program. This means many families pay part of the child care cost. This is called a copayment (copay). The monthly copay is based on family size and income.

Apply, renew or report changes

Information for child care providers


Waitlist resources

How to Apply for ERDC

You can apply for ERDC online, by phone, or in person at a local office. During the application process, you will complete an interview and learn whether you will join or skip the ERDC waitlist.

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, attending school, on medical leave from work or school, receiving TANF (cash assistance), or participating in certain Child Welfare programs.
    • In a two-parent family, both parents must be working or in school. Exceptions apply if:
      • The family receives TANF or participates in certain Child Welfare programs .
      • One parent cannot provide child care because of a medical or mental health condition
      • Supervised contact is required by the State.

  • Need child care to support the qualifying activities listed above. 
  • 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).
  • Meet immunization requirements for children needing care, or qualify for a medical or non-medical exemption. 

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 may still keep your ERDC benefits.

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When you first apply

These are the initial income limits as of 3/1/2026. 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 income limits

These are the ongoing and exit income limits as of 3/1/2026. 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 your provider is 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 ERDC maximum amount. DELC pays up to the maximum and you pay the additional cost. This additional cost is not your copay.

Child care assistance covers:

  • The time you are at work, including your meal time while working
  • The time you are in school, including some study time
  • Travel time between child care and work or school 
  • Continued child care during approved medical leave from employment or school 
  • Sleep hours if you work a night shift 
  • Family well-being activities (Note: coverage depends on your type of ERDC and number of authorized hours). 

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 currently has a waitlist due to increased demand and limited funding.   
  • ShapeIf you are currently getting ERDC, the waitlist does not apply, and you may continue to get benefits as long as you remain eligible and reapply on time.
  • While the waitlist is active, families who apply for ERDC will be placed on the waitlist unless they can skip the waitlist. To skip the waitlist, families must: 
    • Meet an exemption, and
    • Have self-reported monthly income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (200% FPL). 
  • Families who meet an exemption include:
    • Families recently (within 3 months of benefits ending) or currently receiving cash assistance (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
  • ERDC Contracted Slots: Baby Promise and certain Head Start programs are ERDC contracted slots. DELC contracts with these partners in certain regions of Oregon to hold contracted child care slots for children receiving ERDC.
  • Waitlist Refresh: Once a year, DELC contacts families on the ERDC waitlist to see if they want to stay on it. Families must respond to remain on the waitlist. If they do not respond, they may be removed and will need to reapply.
  • Moving off the waitlist: Families will not move off the waitlist until openings are available, which depends on program funding and the number of families currently receiving ERDC. Wait times will vary.

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ERDC Waitlist FAQs

ERDC has 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 currently getting ERDC, the waitlist does not apply, and you may continue to get benefits as long as you remain eligible and reapply on time. Some families may skip the waitlist if they meet specific criteria..

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.

Preschool Kids in Line

 
 

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

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