Skip to main content

Help paying for child care

Child Care Vouchers | NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS)

Get started

How it works

Child care vouchers help cover child care costs for ages 6 weeks to 13 years old and up to age 19 for children with disabilities. Thousands of home-based and center-based providers across NYC accept them.

  • Vouchers cover some or all of your child care costs.
  • Most families are required to pay a small fee based on their income and family size. Your voucher will cover all of the costs if you are:
    • a family on cash assistance
    • a family experiencing homelessness
    • a foster care parent
  • You can use a voucher to pay for child care from licensed/regulated providers and approved informal providers like relatives, neighbors, or friends.
  • You can begin using your voucher at any time during the year.
  • Eligibility is based on your family’s income, work status, and other criteria.
  • Parents don’t need to be U.S. citizens. Children must be U.S. citizens or have legal immigration status.
  • Vouchers are available while funding lasts.

Eligibility requirements

You may qualify if you get cash assistance or if your household income is below these amounts:

Family size Monthly income Yearly income
2 $6,435.50 $77,226.00
3 $7,949.74 $95,396.83
4 $9,463.97 $113,567.65
5 $10,978.20 $131,738.47
6 $12,492.44 $149,909.30
7 $12,776.36 $153,316.33
8 $13,060.28 $156,723.36
9 $13,344.20 $160,130.39
10 $13,628.12 $163,537.42
11 $13,912.04 $166,944.45
12 $14,195.96 $170,351.48
13 $14,479.88 $173,758.50
14 $14,763.79 $177,165.53
15 $15,047.71 $180,572.56
16 $15,331.63 $183,979.59
17 $15,615.55 $187,386.62
18 $15,889.47 $190,793.65
19 $16,183.39 $194,200.68
20 $16,467.30 $197,607.71

Families who work 10+ hours per week must make at least minimum wage ($16.50/hour) to qualify for child care assistance.

Each parent must have a qualifying reason for care:

  • In school or job training
  • Looking for work
  • Unhoused
  • Receiving domestic violence services
  • Receiving treatment for substance misuse

Immigration status requirements

Only children’s citizenship or immigration status is required — not parents’.


How to apply

Apply by mail

  1. Download and complete the application forms.
  2. Mail completed forms and documents to:
    NYC Children – EDU
    PO Box 40, Maplewood, NJ 07040

If you’re in one of these situations:

  • Getting cash assistance → Contact your HRA Benefits Access Center
  • Working with child protective services → Ask your case worker about applying
  • Foster parent → Contact your foster agency about vouchers

Download the application


Get help

Visit the ACS website to learn more.

Find child care programs on NYC Child Care Connect or through the State’s Office of Children and Family Services page.

Contact the ACS CFWB Call Center at 212-835-7610 with questions.


Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.


Last Updated September 25, 2025

Stay updated on benefits

Get occasional emails about benefits news, upcoming enrollment periods, and deadlines. Translations are available in 11 languages.