How to Know if You're in the TikTok Creator Fund

Wondering if you've been accepted into the TikTok Creator Fund? The easiest way to find out is by checking the Creator Tools section in your app's settings. This article provides a definitive step-by-step guide to check your status, understand your earnings dashboard, and clarify common questions about how TikTok rewards its creators.

What is the TikTok Creator Fund? (A Quick Refresher)

First, a quick but important update: the program you’re probably looking for has evolved. In early 2023, TikTok began phasing out the original "Creator Fund" in favor of the new and improved Creator Rewards Program. While many people still use the old name, the Creator Rewards Program is the active monetization feature for creators in eligible regions today.

The goal is the same: to provide a way for creators to earn money directly from their content on TikTok. Instead of just paying out from a fixed pool of money, the new program uses a formula that better rewards creators for high-quality, original content that keeps viewers engaged, with a special emphasis on videos longer than one minute.

First Things First: Do You Even Qualify?

Before you can get in, you need to be eligible to apply. It’s a common point of confusion - you might have a viral video but are still missing one of the key requirements. Run through this checklist to see if your account is ready.

To qualify for the TikTok Creator Rewards Program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a minimum of 10,000 followers.
• Accumulate at least 100,000 authentic video views in the last 30 days.
• Be based in a country where the Creator Rewards Program is available. As of now, this includes the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, with plans to expand.
• Have an account in good standing, with no history of major violations of TikTok’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.
• Post original content that is eligible for the For You feed.

If you check all these boxes, you're ready to apply and can move on to check your status. If not, focus on meeting these milestones first. Building an engaged community and a strong content library is your primary goal.

How to Check Your Application Status and See Your Earnings

Ready to see if you're in? Finding your status is straightforward once you know where to look. Follow these exact steps inside the TikTok app.

Step-by-Step Guide to Find Your Status

1. Open the TikTok App and Go to Your Profile. Tap the "Profile" icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
2. Access the Settings Menu. Tap the hamburger icon (the three horizontal lines ☰) in the top-right corner to open up your settings and privacy options.
3. Navigate to Creator Tools. In the menu that appears, tap on "Creator Tools." This is the central hub for all of TikTok’s monetization and analytics features.
4. Find the "Monetization" Section. Inside Creator Tools, you’ll see several sections. Look for the one labeled "Monetization."
5. Tap on "Creator Rewards Program." This is where the magic happens. Your status will determine what you see next.

What You'll See (And What It Means)

Based on your current status, the "Creator Rewards Program" screen will show one of three things:

• If You're In: Success! The first thing you'll see is a dashboard displaying your "Estimated rewards." It will show your earnings for the current period, along with performance metrics for your videos. You'll also see options to view your RPM (revenue per mille) and a button to withdraw your earnings. If you see this dashboard, you are officially part of the program.
• If Your Application is Pending or Was Not Approved: If you've applied but haven't been accepted yet, this screen will show the status of your application. It might say something like "Pending review" or "Under review." If your application was denied, it will state "Not approved" and usually provide a reason (e.g., did not meet follower/view requirements, unoriginal content, etc). You can typically re-apply after 30 days.
• If You Haven't Applied Yet (But are Eligible): The screen will present you with an "Apply" button. The app will confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria. If all the checks are green, you can proceed with the application right there. The application process is quick - you'll just need to confirm your age and agree to the program's terms.

What to Look For in Your Creator Dashboard

Getting accepted is just the first step. Understanding your dashboard is how you turn this opportunity into a real revenue stream. Here’s a breakdown of the key terms you'll see:

Estimated Rewards

This is the big number at the top of your dashboard. It’s the running total of your earnings for the current period. These rewards update daily but are not finalized until a few days after the end of the month. Think of it as a helpful estimate, not a final figure.

Qualified Views

This is arguably the most important metric. Not every view you get on a video counts toward your earnings. For the Creator Rewards Program, a qualified view must meet several criteria:

• Views must come from the For You page. Views from your profile, the search page, or direct links don't count.
• The video must be longer than one minute. This is a big departure from the old Creator Fund and incentivizes longer, more engaging content.
• Views can't be fraudulent, paid, or marked as "disliked" by the viewer.
• Viewers can't skip the video in the first few seconds.

RPM (Revenue Per Mille)

RPM stands for "revenue per 1,000 qualified views." This isn’t a fixed number, it's a dynamic rate that changes based on many factors, including the viewer's location, the overall engagement on your video (likes, comments, shares, completion rate), and even the advertising value in your niche. Your RPM helps you understand the earning efficiency of your videos. A video with a high RPM can earn you more money with fewer views than a video with a low RPM.

Common Questions and Misconceptions

Let's clear up a few things that often trip creators up on their monetization journey.

"Why can't I apply even though I meet the follower count?"

Most of the time, this happens because another requirement hasn't been met. Double-check your 30-day view count (it needs to be 100,000+). Also, confirm your age (18+) and that the program is available in your country. If all else fails, make sure your app is updated to the latest version.

"Does joining the Creator Rewards Program hurt my views?"

This is a persistent myth. TikTok has stated that joining its monetization programs does not negatively impact your video distribution or reach. Often, creators experience natural fluctuations in their views due to changes in their content format, audience interest, or algorithm shifts. The best path forward is always to focus on making outstanding content your audience loves, whether you're in the program or not.

"My views are up, but my earnings are down. What gives?"

This all comes back to qualified views and RPM. You could have a video go viral with millions of views, but if those views come primarily from search or your profile page, they won't translate to earnings. Similarly, if your audience's location has a lower RPM or if the video's engagement is low, your earnings-per-1,000-views will be less. Focus on creating high-retention videos over one minute long that are designed for the For You page.

"How and when do I get paid?"

Your earnings become available for withdrawal approximately 30 days after the end of the month in which they were earned. For example, your March earnings would be available to withdraw at the beginning of May. You need a minimum of $10 to make a withdrawal, which you can transfer out via linked services like PayPal or Zelle.

Final Thoughts

Knowing if you're in the TikTok Creator Rewards Program is as simple as visiting your Creator Tools dashboard. This central hub tells you everything you need to know about your status, your earnings, and your video performance. Once you're in, your focus should shift to understanding what drives qualified views and a healthy RPM, which almost always comes down to creating great content that your audience sticks around to watch.

Of course, creating that consistent stream of high-quality content needed to succeed is a job in itself. At Postbase, we built our social media management platform for modern creators and brands who live in a world of short-form video. We help you plan your content strategy visually, schedule posts across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts from one place, and stay on top of your audience's comments and DMs. We handle the organizational chaos so you can put your full energy into what you do best: creating.