How does Child Care Voucher work?

Child care vouchers are a government regulated and funded resource to help eligible low-income families with child care costs. Child care programs offer a safe and positive learning environment for your child while you work or attend school. In child care programs, children can play, discover, learn, and build positive relationships with other children. In addition to licensed/regulated providers, you can use child care vouchers with approved informal providers, such as relatives, neighbors, or friends. Eligibility is based on your family’s income, size, and other needs. Services are available for children with disabilities. Parents are not required to be US citizens; however, the child receiving care must be a US citizen, a US national, or person with satisfactory immigration status. Most families are required to pay a fee based on income and family size. Those who are exempt from the family fee are: families on cash assistance families experiencing homelessness foster care parents Voucher availability is dependent upon funding.

How do I Apply to Child Care Voucher?

Apply for the waiting list by email Due to high demand, eligible families who request vouchers will be placed on a waitlist at this time. ACS will notify families on the voucher waitlist when more funds are available. Complete the Voucher Waitlist Form . Scan and email it to VoucherWL@acs.nyc.gov While waiting, you may consider other options to meet immediate child needs, such as EarlyLearn programs. Enrolling your child in another program will not change your place on the voucher waitlist. Special Referrals If your family is applying for or receiving cash assistance, you must apply for child care through the Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center . If your family has an active child welfare case (such as receiving prevention and/or child protective services), you must contact your case planner or Child Protective Specialist to get a Child Care subsidy referral. If you are an employed foster parent, you must contact your agency case planner to get a Child Care subsidy referral. Families experiencing homelessness who are found eligible for child care assistance are prioritized for child care vouchers. Families should call the ACS Child and Family Well-Being Call Center at 212-835-7610 for support with completing the Child Care subsidy application . All families, including families who may need one of these referrals, can contact the ACS Child and Family Well-Being Call Center at (212) 835-7610 or call 311 to get help with finding a program and completing the Child Care subsidy application. Apply for the waiting list by mail Complete the Voucher Waitlist Form Mail it to: NYC Administration for Children’s Services 66 John Street 7th floor New York, NY 10038 ATTN: New VWL Request Due to COVID-19, ACS resource centers to apply in-person are currently closed.

Child Care Voucher – ACCESS NYC

1. How it Works

Child care vouchers help cover the cost of child care for children 6 weeks to 13 years old. Children with disabilities up to 18 years old are also covered. There are hundreds of home-based and center-based providers that accept child care vouchers across NYC, who offer child care services in safe and positive learning environments.

Child care vouchers are a government regulated and funded resource to help eligible low-income families with child care costs.
Child care programs offer a safe and positive learning environment for your child while you work or attend school.
In child care programs, children can play, discover, learn, and build positive relationships with other children.
In addition to licensed/regulated providers, you can use child care vouchers with approved informal providers, such as relatives, neighbors, or friends.
Eligibility is based on your family’s income, size, and other needs.
Services are available for children with disabilities.
Parents are not required to be US citizens; however, the child receiving care must be a US citizen, a US national, or person with satisfactory immigration status.
Most families are required to pay a fee based on income and family size. Those who are exempt from the family fee are:
- families on cash assistance
- families experiencing homelessness
- foster care parents
Voucher availability is dependent upon funding.

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

Child care voucher programs have income and other eligibility requirements.

If you qualify, your child care tuition at participating day care sites can be fully or partially paid. Your child can begin a program any time during the year.

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

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3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

Due to high demand, eligible families who request vouchers will be placed on a waitlist at this time. You don’t need documents to sign up for the Child Care Voucher Waitlist.

For families experiencing homelessness, visit the Application Submission Checklist for a list of required documents when applying for the Child Care subsidy application.

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply for the waiting list by email

Due to high demand, eligible families who request vouchers will be placed on a waitlist at this time.
ACS will notify families on the voucher waitlist when more funds are available.

Complete the Voucher Waitlist Form. Scan and email it to VoucherWL@acs.nyc.gov

While waiting, you may consider other options to meet immediate child needs, such as EarlyLearn programs. Enrolling your child in another program will not change your place on the voucher waitlist.

Special Referrals

If your family is applying for or receiving cash assistance, you must apply for child care through the Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center.
If your family has an active child welfare case (such as receiving prevention and/or child protective services), you must contact your case planner or Child Protective Specialist to get a Child Care subsidy referral.
If you are an employed foster parent, you must contact your agency case planner to get a Child Care subsidy referral.
Families experiencing homelessness who are found eligible for child care assistance are prioritized for child care vouchers.
- Families should call the ACS Child and Family Well-Being Call Center at 212-835-7610 for support with completing the Child Care subsidy application.

All families, including families who may need one of these referrals, can contact the ACS Child and Family Well-Being Call Center at (212) 835-7610 or call 311 to get help with finding a program and completing the Child Care subsidy application.

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Child care for eligible low-income families

Child Care Voucher | Administration for Children Services

1. How it Works

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More ways to get help with this program

2. Determine your eligibility

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3. What you need to include

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4. How to apply

Here are your options.

More ways to get help with this program

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