Big changes are coming to Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) program, and families need to know how these updates will affect their benefits. Starting in November 2025, the state will require more work hours for parents and caregivers to qualify for full-time and part-time PFCC vouchers.
At Starting Point, our role is to make sure families have the information they need to keep their child care secure and their children thriving.
What’s Changing?
Ohio has increased the required work hours to qualify for PFCC vouchers. The new standards are:
- 33+ Work Hours → Eligible for Full-Time Benefit
- 10 – 32.9 Work Hours → Eligible for Part-Time Benefit
- 9.9 or Fewer Work Hours → Eligible for Hourly Benefit
What Counts as “Work Hours”?
Qualifying hours aren’t just the time spent on the job. The state now includes:
- Transportation to and from work
- Unpaid lunch breaks
- For select jobs, sleep time before, during, or after overnight shifts
These definitions are guided by the Ohio Administrative Code to reflect the realities of working parents’ schedules.
Why This Matters
Child care is a lifeline for families—helping parents stay employed while giving children the safe, nurturing environments they need to grow and learn. With these changes, it’s important for families to know where they stand so they don’t risk losing their benefits.
If your work schedule shifts above or below the new thresholds, your level of PFCC support could change.
We’re Here to Help
Starting Point’s Family Resource Navigators are ready to walk you through these new rules and make sure you understand how they apply to your family. Whether you need to review your work hours, explore additional child care options, or prepare for the November 2025 changes, we’re here for you.
Call us at 216.575.0061
Email us at info@Starting-Point.org
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm
Don’t wait until the deadline! Reach out now so you and your family stay covered.
