When you apply for childcare financial assistance — and again when you renew — you'll need to provide documents that verify your identity, residency, income, service need, and family composition. Here's what to expect.

At Your First Application

You need to document all of the following:

1. Identity (Who You Are)

You need to prove your identity as the parent or caregiver applying.

• Best option: A photo ID (driver's license, passport, state ID)
• Expired IDs are accepted — if the document is otherwise sufficient to establish your identity, it does not matter when it expired
• If you don't have a photo ID: You can submit two secondary documents without photos that together establish your identity

Documents that reasonably establish your identity must be accepted. There is no requirement for one specific type of document.

2. Residency (Where You Live)

You must show that you live in Massachusetts. Acceptable documents include:

• Utility bill with your name and MA address
• Lease or rental agreement
• Mail from a government agency with your MA address
• Other documents that reasonably establish your MA residency (ask your CCR&R)

If you're experiencing homelessness and don't have a permanent address, you must maintain as much contact information as possible with your CCR&R. You are not required to have a fixed address to be eligible. A shelter is a valid address.

3. Child's Citizenship or Immigration Status

The citizenship or immigration status of each child for whom care is requested must be verified.

Critical: Only the child's status is checked — not the parent's. Your immigration status as a parent does not affect your child's eligibility.

• Any documents that reasonably establish the child's citizenship or immigration status can be accepted, but may require approval by EEC
• No specific type of document can be required
• No child can be denied assistance based solely on failure to demonstrate citizenship/immigration status without final review by EEC

For detailed guidance on acceptable documents, see the policy guide's appendices on citizenship and immigration documentation, or contact your CCR&R. For complex immigration situations, contact GBLS (Greater Boston Legal Services) or a local legal aid organization.

Important: Neither your CCR&R nor EEC reports any records of immigration status outside of their respective agencies.

4. Income (How Much You Earn)

Documentation depends on your type of income:

Income type	What to provide
Paid employment	Pay stubs from within the last 26 weeks (they do not need to be consecutive: 4 stubs if paid weekly, 2 if biweekly, 1 if monthly). Parents may choose stubs they feel are most reflective of their regular income.
Self-employment	EEC's Report of Self-Employment form. You only need to report one month of income. Receipts and expense documentation are no longer required.
Self-employment (cash)	Same as above — self-employment includes cash payments
Military	Copy of military orders
Retirement	Verification of age and, if applicable, retirement documentation
No income	You may still qualify — talk to your CCR&R

5. Service Need (Why You Need Childcare)

Activity	What to provide
Paid employment	Letter from employer, or recent pay stubs showing hours
Self-employment	EEC's Report of Self-Employment form
High school / GED	Written statement from the school
College	Written statement from the school showing enrollment and credit hours
Vocational training / ESOL	Written statement from the training program
DTA referral	The DTA referral document (covers income and service need)
DCF referral	The DCF referral document
Disability	Verification of disability form, certified per EEC policy
Homelessness	Certification from a DHCD-funded program, shelter, or other approved source
Domestic violence	Signed self-declaration plus one supporting document (see Domestic Violence (1.16) for the full list)
Substance use disorder treatment	Self-attestation of treatment plan plus written statement from treatment program on professional letterhead
Parental leave	Letter from employer/school, letter from doctor/adoption agency, PFML documentation, or signed self-attestation
Military deployment	Military orders confirming deployment to combat/hazardous duty zone

6. Family Composition

You need to show who lives in your household and their relationship to the child:

• Birth certificates (for children)
• Custody documents (if applicable)
• Other documents that establish family relationships (baptismal certificates, marriage certificates, etc.)

For dependent children over 18, you'll need to provide documentation showing the child is a full-time student.

At Reauthorization (Renewal)

When you renew every 12 months, you only need to provide:

• Updated income documentation
• Updated service need documentation
• Residency documentation — only if your address has changed since your last renewal

You do not need to re-prove identity, citizenship, or family composition unless something has changed.

If your household changes (such as a new child, or a change of marriage status), you should report those changes to your CCR&R within 30 days.

Important Deadlines for Documentation

There are two different 30-day deadlines in this system. They apply at different times:

At Initial Authorization (New to the System)

After your CCR&R receives your initial application, you have 30 days to submit all required documentation. Your CCR&R will notify you of this deadline.

At Reauthorization (Renewal)

If your voucher authorization expires and you haven't completed your reauthorization, you have 30 days after the expiration date to complete the process before you may need to re-enter the waitlist system or go through a more complicated review process with EEC.

In both cases: If you're having trouble getting a document in time, contact your CCR&R as soon as possible. Don't wait until the deadline passes. Starting early is always better.

The "Reasonably Establishes" Rule

The regulations repeatedly use the phrase "documents that reasonably establish" identity, residency, family composition, and citizenship status. This means the system is designed to accept a range of documents — not just one specific form. If you're struggling to provide a particular document, tell your CCR&R what you do have. They are required to consider reasonable alternatives.

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Next Steps

• Ready to apply? See How to Apply (1.5)
• Preparing for your renewal? See Reassessment (1.11)
• Not sure about your income eligibility? See Income Eligibility (1.2)
• Immigration questions? Contact GBLS or local legal aid — your status as a parent does NOT affect eligibility