CHILD
CARE SUBSIDES
from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Child care subsidies are provided by social service districts
to enable a parent or caretaker to work or engage in other approved
activities. Child care subsidies helps parent(s)/caretaker(s)
to pay some or all of the cost of child care services. Social
services district can pay the cost of care up to the market
rate.
There
are three main categories of eligibility for receiving child
care subsidies.
Category
I - Guaranteed Child Care
Temporary Assistance applicants and recipients, who need child
care assistance for a child under 13 years of age to participate
in activities required by the social service district
Families who are applying for or are receiving Temporary Assistance
and need child care to work; and who choose child care in lieu
of Temporary Assistance
Families who were receiving Temporary Assistance, but became
ineligible when their income increased due to employment or
child support are eligible for transitional child care for up
to 12 months
Category II - Families that are Eligible for Child Care When
Funds Available in the Social Services District
Temporary Assistance family needing care for a child 13 and
older who has special needs or is under court supervision, so
that the parent/caretaker can work
Temporary Assistance family with an eligible child and a teen
parent, or needing protection
Low income family, with a child under 13 years of age. (Family
has an income up to 200% of the State income standard)
There are other categories of families that are eligible for
child care subsidies when funds are available. Check with your
social service district for complete list of eligible families.
Category III - Families that are Eligible When Funds Available
and Included in the Social Services District Child and Family
Services Plan
Temporary Assistance family with an eligible child in additional
approved activities
Temporary Assistance family with an eligible child and sanctioned
parent
Families receiving Temporary Assistance or income up to 200%
of the State income standard needing to protect the eligible
child
Family regardless of income with open child protective services
case
Temporary Assistance families and families with income up to
200% of the State income standard, with an eligible child, attending
programs beyond high school
Low income family with an eligible child attending approved
activities
There are other categories of families that are eligible for
child care subsidies when funds are available and included in
the social service district Child and Family Services Plan.
Check with your social service district for complete list of
eligible families.
Financial Eligibility
Financial Eligibility for child care subsidies is based on the
family size and the family’s gross annual income.
Family
Size Maximum Income Ceiling 1, 2
1 $21,660
2 $29,140
3 $36,620
4 $44,100
5 $51,580
6 $59,060
Each additional member Add $7,480
1.
2008-09 figures - the eligibility levels are adjusted in June
each year
2. Except for situations where child care is guaranteed, social
service districts are allowed to serve families with lower incomes
before serving those with higher incomes. If a social service
district has insufficient funds to serve all eligible families
they must serve those families based on the priorities they
have established in their Child and Family Services Plan.
New
York City, Nassau, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Oneida and
Monroe County, have special funding projects, which allow these
districts to provide child care subsidies to working families
with incomes up to 275% of the state income standard.
Benefits
Payment for child care services is guaranteed to those families
on Temporary Assistance (including those families that have
chosen child care in lieu of Temporary Assistance,) who have
children under the age of 13 when child care is necessary for
them to work or participate in required work activities.
Transitional
child care is guaranteed for 12 months to those families with
incomes up to 200% of the state income standard (see chart above)
who leave cash assistance because of earnings or increased child
support, and to those who received child care because they were
eligible for public assistance (but chose not to receive it),
but who lost their eligibility for cash assistance because of
increased earnings or child support. To qualify for transitional
child care, a family must have been on family assistance for
at least 3 out of the previous 6 months. For all others, eligibility
is set at 200% of poverty as set forth above. However, because
funds are limited, counties have the right to set priorities
about who they will serve, leaving some eligible families without
access to subsidized child care. All special eligibility rules
for child care programs, are set forth in the social services
district’s Child and Family Services Plan, which you can
obtain by visiting the Office of Children and Family Services
website.
The
amount to be paid for child care is the actual cost of care
up to the market rate. The market rate is set by the State.
If your provider charges more than the market rate you will
have to pay the difference. Social Services District provides
child care subsidy assistance through purchase of service contracts
or through cash, vouchers or reimbursement. Families in receipt
of child care subsidies are required o pay a family share towards
the cost of the child care. This family share is calculated
on a sliding scale with the family’s share based on an
income based formula with a percentage applied to the income
above poverty chosen by the county. Families on Temporary Assistance
are not required to pay a family share.
Under
the New York State Child Care Block Grant, parents have the
right to choose their own child care provider. If the provider
has a contract with the social service district, parents do
not have to pay any more than theirfamily share, regardless
of the rate charged to non-subsidized parents. If the provider
does not have a contract with the social service district and
the provider charges more than the market rate the parent must
pay the difference.
How
to Apply
Applications for child care subsidy and information about eligibility
may be obtained by contacting your social service district.
If you live in New York City and you are on Temporary Assistance
or applying for Temporary Assistance, call or visit your local
Job Center. If you are applying only for child care assistance,
call the New York City information helpline at 311 and they
will direct you where to call. You must complete the application
package and turn it in either in person nor by mail.
Information
on the availability of child care providers can be obtained
through the Office of Children and Family Services website or
the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency in your
county. To find the CCR&R agency in your county visit the
New York State Early Care and Learning Council website.
