To qualify for CAPS, you must meet three requirements: (1) your gross household income is at or below 85% of Georgia's State Median Income, (2) at least one parent is working, in school, or in an approved job training program, and (3) your child is under 13 years old (or under 18 with a documented disability).
Use our eligibility calculator to check your specific income and family size in under a minute.
No — being a single parent doesn't disqualify you. In fact, single-parent households often qualify more easily because only one income is counted. The household income limit applies to all income in the home, so if you live with a partner or spouse, their income counts too even if they're not the child's parent.
As a single parent, you still need to be working, in school, or in approved job training. If you cannot work due to a medical reason or are a victim of domestic violence, you may qualify under special circumstances — call DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 to discuss.
Yes. Full-time and part-time enrollment in an accredited college, university, or vocational program counts as meeting the work/school requirement. You'll need to provide current enrollment verification — most schools offer this through the registrar's office and it's usually free and instant.
For self-employed individuals, DECAL calculates income based on your net self-employment income — gross revenue minus business expenses. Your most recent federal tax return (Schedule C) is the primary documentation requested. If you've been self-employed for less than a year, bank statements showing deposits or a signed income statement may be accepted.
CAPS is a federally-funded program. Eligibility for parents is tied to certain immigration statuses. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are generally eligible if income and work requirements are met. Parents with other immigration statuses should call DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 to discuss their specific situation confidentially.
Importantly: a U.S.-born child can qualify for CAPS even if the parent is not a citizen, as long as the parent providing care meets the work requirement and income limit. Contact DECAL directly to understand how this applies to your family.
Most CAPS applications are decided within 30–45 days of submission. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation. Submitting all required documents at the same time as your application is the best way to avoid delays.
Check your Georgia Gateway account and the email address you registered with regularly — caseworkers may contact you to request additional information, and there is typically a response deadline.
You cannot complete a CAPS application before your child is born because a birth certificate is required. However, you can apply immediately after birth — don't wait. Infant CAPS slots at daycares are the most limited, and the application process takes 30–45 days. Apply as soon as you have the birth certificate, which Georgia hospitals can typically provide within a few days.
Yes. Georgia Gateway is available in Spanish at gateway.ga.gov. For assistance in other languages, call 1-877-423-4746 and request an interpreter. DFCS offices also have access to language interpretation services. You do not need to speak English to apply for CAPS.
When CAPS funding is limited in your county, eligible applicants are placed on a waiting list in the order they applied. Being on the waiting list is free and doesn't commit you to anything. When funding becomes available, DECAL contacts you in order to complete your enrollment.
Wait times vary significantly by county and time of year. Some counties have no wait list at all; others may have wait times of several months. Georgia has historically had wait lists in high-demand counties like Fulton, Gwinnett, and DeKalb. There is no central public database showing current wait times — call DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 to ask about your specific county.
If you are on a wait list, consider applying for Georgia Pre-K (free for all 4-year-olds) or Head Start (income-based, free) in the interim. These don't replace CAPS but can help with immediate childcare needs.
Significant changes — such as a major income increase that puts you over the CAPS limit — could affect your eligibility when it's your turn. However, changes like switching jobs, changing your work schedule, or moving within Georgia typically do not cause you to lose your spot. Report changes to DECAL so your file stays current.
Don't give up. You have 30 days from the date on your denial notice to request a fair hearing (appeal). Read your denial notice carefully — it must state the specific reason for denial. Common reasons include:
- Missing or incomplete documents
- Income calculated above the limit (sometimes due to a counting error)
- Work/school requirement not met or not verified
- Address or identity verification issue
To appeal: Call 1-877-423-4746 and say "I want to request a fair hearing." Or send a written request to your county DFCS office. You can represent yourself or bring someone to help you.
Yes. If your CAPS benefits were terminated — due to missing a renewal deadline, an income change, or a change in work status — you can reapply through Georgia Gateway. You will need to resubmit all documentation and go through the standard 30–45 day review.
If your benefits were terminated recently and you believe it was an error, you have 30 days from the termination notice to request a fair hearing rather than reapplying from scratch. A fair hearing can potentially reinstate benefits faster than a new application.
Call DECAL immediately at 1-877-423-4746. If your benefits have already lapsed, you'll need to reapply. However, if you missed the deadline due to circumstances outside your control (illness, hospitalization, domestic violence situation, natural disaster), explain this to your caseworker — there may be provisions to reinstate benefits more quickly.
Notify your daycare provider the same day. Most providers will work with you during a short lapse, but you cannot expect them to hold your child's spot indefinitely without payment.
Your co-pay is determined by DECAL based on your gross household income relative to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Families at the lowest income levels pay $0/week per child. As income increases relative to the FPL, the co-pay increases. Use our co-pay calculator for an estimate, but your exact amount is set by DECAL after reviewing your application.
Some daycares — particularly those with QR ★★★ ratings — choose to absorb part or all of the parent co-pay using their enhanced CAPS reimbursement rate. This means some CAPS families at these providers effectively pay $0 out of pocket. Ask specifically: "Do you reduce or waive co-pays for CAPS families?" This is provider-by-provider and not guaranteed.
Yes. If your income decreases significantly, report it to DECAL within 10 days by logging into Georgia Gateway or calling 1-877-423-4746. DECAL can reassess your co-pay at any time — you don't have to wait for your renewal period. A decrease in income typically results in a lower co-pay, sometimes immediately.
Yes. CAPS covers the care cost only. Providers can separately charge CAPS families for:
- One-time enrollment or registration fees
- Meals and snacks (if not included in the base rate)
- Field trips and enrichment activities
- Supplies (diapers, wipes, sunscreen in some facilities)
- Late pickup fees
Ask each provider upfront: "What fees are NOT covered by CAPS that I would owe?" Get the answer in writing before you enroll.
Yes — but you must notify DECAL before you switch. Your Certificate of Eligibility must be transferred from your current provider to the new CAPS-approved provider. Do not simply stop attending one daycare and start at another without notifying DECAL — this can cause overpayment issues where DECAL paid the old provider for days your child didn't attend.
To switch: Call DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 or log into Georgia Gateway and update your provider information. Allow a few days for the transfer to process before your child's first day at the new facility.
Yes. Family childcare homes (home-based daycares) that are licensed or registered with DECAL and enrolled as CAPS providers are fully eligible. Home-based providers often have lower ratios and a more family-like environment, and many accept CAPS. Search and filter for "Family Home" in the daycare finder to find licensed home-based providers near you.
Yes, under specific conditions. The relative must: (1) be licensed or registered as a childcare provider with DECAL, (2) not live in the same household as the child, and (3) meet all the standard CAPS provider requirements. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings over 18 who meet these conditions can be CAPS providers. Call DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 to walk through the relative provider enrollment process.
CAPS benefits are typically renewed every 6–12 months. The exact period depends on your situation — some families have 12-month review periods, others 6 months. You will receive a redetermination notice by mail and through your Georgia Gateway account before your benefits expire.
Renewal requires the same basic documentation as the original application — but updated. This typically includes: current pay stubs (last 4 weeks), current proof of work or school enrollment, and updated Georgia ID if yours has changed. Log into Georgia Gateway when you receive your redetermination notice — the portal will tell you exactly which documents need to be resubmitted.
Not necessarily. As long as your income remains at or below 85% of the State Median Income for your family size, you remain eligible. Your co-pay may increase to reflect your higher income. Use our calculator to check your new income against the 2026 limits. If you've exceeded the limit, DECAL will notify you and your benefits will end at your current approval period's expiration.
Yes — and with expanded eligibility. CAPS covers children with documented disabilities up to age 18, compared to age 13 for children without disabilities. Providers who serve children with special needs may receive an enhanced CAPS reimbursement rate, which is designed to account for additional staffing and accommodations needed.
To qualify under the disability provision, you'll need documentation from a licensed physician, psychologist, or other qualified professional describing the child's disability. Include this with your application or contact DECAL to add it to an existing case.
Yes. Survivors of domestic violence may qualify for CAPS under special provisions even if they do not currently meet the standard work or school requirement, as safety and housing situations are recognized as circumstances outside of normal control. Certain information — like your address — can also be kept confidential in DECAL's system.
Contact DECAL at 1-877-423-4746 and inform them of your situation. You can also contact the Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-334-2836 for referrals to advocates who can help you navigate CAPS and other benefits.
Families receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) may be eligible for CAPS under different or more flexible rules. TANF recipients may be prioritized for CAPS and may not be subject to the same work-activity requirements as other applicants. Apply through the same Georgia Gateway process and inform the caseworker that you receive TANF — they will apply the appropriate guidelines for your case.
Foster children's childcare is typically funded through a different system — Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) — rather than CAPS. If you are a foster parent, contact your DFCS caseworker directly to ask about childcare funding. Foster children may also have access to other childcare support programs that CAPS-eligible children do not.
Yes — for a limited time. Georgia CAPS provides a job search period for families who become unemployed. You can typically maintain benefits for up to 60 days while actively seeking employment. You must report the job loss to DECAL within 10 days and document your job search activities. If you find a new job within this period, benefits continue uninterrupted. Call 1-877-423-4746 immediately if you lose your job to understand the exact provisions for your case.
It depends on the setup. Georgia Pre-K is a half-day (6.5 hours) program for 4-year-olds that is free for all families regardless of income. If your 4-year-old attends a Georgia Pre-K program in the morning, CAPS can sometimes cover extended hours (before Pre-K, after Pre-K, or wrap-around care) at the same facility if the provider is both a Pre-K and CAPS provider. Ask the daycare directly whether they offer this arrangement.
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