How to Find Financial Aid for Daycare
Parents can take advantage of government subsidies and employer supported programs to obtain financial support to help pay for their child's daycare expenses. In addition, many employers provide on-site daycare facilities that parents can pay for at a discount by arranging for automatic payments through their company's payroll department. As an interested parent or caretaker, you can check with your employer's Human Resources department to ask about available financial aid programs that your company offers.
Instructions
Take Advantage of Government and Employer Programs
Apply for a state subsidy. Contact your county or state Department of Social Services. Ask about guidelines and eligibility requirements to receive a local government subsidy. For example, the state of Pennsylvania offers financial assistance through their Child Care Works office, which parents and caretakers can access by calling 877-4-PA-KIDS. Complete applications for assistance such as the Pennsylvania COMPASS program. Check to see if your income meets the federal poverty income guidelines. Make sure that you or the child's other parent works a minimum of 20 hours a week or, if you attend an authorized training program for 10 hours a week, make sure that you work a minimum of 10 hours a week to be eligible for the state subsidy. Keep in mind that your child must typically be between the ages of six months and 12 years old in order for you to receive a subsidy. Call your company's Human Resources department. Ask about the Dependent Care Assistance Program, eligibility requirements and paperwork that you must complete to participate in the program. Apply for assistance for children who are under the age of 14 years old unless the child is handicapped, in which case you can participate in the program even if the child is older than 14 years old so long as the child lives with you. Keep in mind that, as of January 2009, the program allowed parents and caretakers to set aside a maximum of $5,000 per year per child in the tax-free flexible spending accounts. Enroll your child in Head Start. Contact the Early Head Start or Head Start program in your area by visiting the online Head Start Locator (see resources) and inputting your city, state and the program you are trying to locate. Keep in mind that most programs accept children between the ages of birth to five years old. Make sure that your family's income falls below the federal poverty guidelines. Advise your local program's administrators if you are a foster parent who wants to enroll a child in the program, as children in foster care are automatically eligible to enter Head Start. Note that you may also be eligible to enroll your child in Head Start if your family receives other forms of public assistance. File for tax credit. Check with your state tax agency and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to see if you are eligible to deduct a portion of the money that you pay for daycare when you file your tax returns. Ask the IRS if you are also eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit.
