Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

Wondering if you are eligible for the CAPS program? Find out below.

No, we do not currently receive CAPS.

Requirement	Description	Verification Options
Priority Group Status	All new families must be in a priority group (listed above).	Each priority group has different verification requirements. See CAPS Policy – Priority Groups for more details.
Residency	Families must be Georgia residents.	Current Georgia government issued driver’s license or identification card; current lease or mortgage statement; wage stubs with residence address; current utility bill
Child’s age	Children must be 12 years of age or younger, or 17 years of age or younger with qualifying special needs.	Birth certificate, court records, U.S. passport
Child’s citizenship or qualified alien status	Children must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted qualified alien	Birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, U.S. passport, vital records
Immunizations	Verification of immunization is only required for children who do not receive TANF, do not attend school, and do not attend a licensed child care provider.	Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) or a signed, notarized statement of religious exemption
Proof of identity	Parents must provide proof of their identity.	Federal or state issued identification card, Social Security award letter, voter registration card
State-approved activity	Most parents are required to be in a state-approved activity for an average of at least 24 hours per week (employment, education, or job search (for members of qualifying priority groups). The activity requirement is waived for foster parents and those participating in the Division of Family and Children Services Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program.	Employment: pay stubs, a letter from the employer on business letterhead, CAPS Self-employment Report, CAPS Form 809 – Income Verification Education: Written verification of enrollment from the educational institution and current class schedule or an Education Verification Form
Income	The family’s gross applicable income cannot exceed the initial eligibility threshold for new families as defined by CAPS. See Appendix A – Maximum Income Limits.	Pay stubs for the most recent four weeks of income, a letter from the employer on business letterhead, CAPS Self-employment Report, CAPS Employment Verification

Yes, we currently receive CAPS.

Requirement	Description	Verification options
Residency	Families must be Georgia residents.	Current Georgia government issued driver’s license or identification card; current lease or mortgage statement; wage stubs with residence address; current utility bill
Child’s age	Only for any new children not already in the CAPS case.	Birth certificate, court records, U.S. passport
Child’s citizenship or qualified alien status	Only for any new children not already in the CAPS case.	Birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, U.S. passport, vital records
Immunizations	Only for any new children not already in the CAPS case who do not receive TANF, do not attend school, and do not attend a licensed child care provider.	Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form 3231) or a signed, notarized statement of religious exemption
State-approved activity	Most parents are required to be in a state-approved activity for an average of at least 24 hours per week (employment, education, or, for members of qualifying priority groups, job search). The activity requirement is waived for foster parents and those participating in the Division of Family and Child Services Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program.	Employment: pay stubs, a letter from the employer on business letterhead, CAPS Self-employment Report, CAPS Form 809 – Income Verification Education: Written verification of enrollment from the educational institution and current class schedule or an Education Verification Form
Income	The family’s gross applicable income cannot exceed 85% of the state median income. See Appendix A – Maximum Income Limits.	Pay stubs for the most recent four weeks of income, a letter from the employer on business letterhead, CAPS Self-employment Report, CAPS Employment Verification

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) provides a great opportunity for early childhood education programs such as CAPS, Pre-K, Nutrition, Quality Initiatives, and Child Care Licensing to be unified under one agency, providing a more comprehensive approach to early child care education in Georgia.